Common coral reef fishes of Little Cayman
Chaetodon capistratus (Four-eyed Butteflyfish). Source: David Snyder/Fishwise Professional
Little Caymanisoneof the Cayman Islands. Over325 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Little Cayman.
25 most common species in Little Cayman
The following ranking is based on the results of2080REEF Fish Surveyscovering a bottom time of2218 hours and51 minutes.(REEF Geographic Zone Report. June 3, 2009). The species are ranked by the percentage of surveys in which a species was observed. Abundance of fishes in REEF Fish Surveys are estimated using the following categories: 1- single =1 individual, 2-few = 2- 10 individuals, 3-many = 11-100 individuals, and 4-abundant > 100 individuals. The mean numeric abundance (ranging from 1 - 4) was calculated for each species.. The mean abundance category is determined as follows: mean abundance category 0 - 1.49 = single, 1.50 - 1.99 = single-few, 2.0 - 2.49 = few, 2.5 - 2.99 = few-many, 3.0 - 3.49 = many, 3.5 -3.99 = many-abundant, and 4.0 = abundant.
Blue chromis—the most frequently observed reef fish in Little Cayman. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994. 
Fairy basslet—the reef fish with the highest mean adundance in Little Cayman. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994. |
Species |
% of surveys observed |
Mean abundance category |
|
1. Blue chromis |
95.6 |
many-abundant |
|
2. Blue tang |
95.5 |
few-many |
|
3. Stoplight parrotfish |
93.5 |
few-many |
|
4. Bluehead |
93.3 |
many |
|
5. Fairy basslet |
92.7 |
many-abundant |
|
6. Bicolor damselfish |
91.8 |
many |
|
7. Foureye butterflyfish |
89.8 |
few |
|
8. Brown chromis |
88.9 |
many |
|
9. Bar jack |
87.8 |
few |
|
10. Yellowtail snapper |
86.7 |
few-many |
|
11. Black durgon |
83.6 |
few-many |
|
12. Schoolmaster |
82.6 |
few-many |
|
13. Yellowhead wrasse |
82.0 |
few-many |
|
14. Graysby |
79.1 |
few |
|
15. Princess parrotfish |
78.8 |
few-many |
|
16. Banded butterflyfish |
78.3 |
single-few |
|
17. Creole wrasse |
77.9 |
many-abundant |
|
18. Striped parrotfish |
75.8 |
few-many |
|
19. Nassau grouper |
75.0 |
single-few |
|
20.Sharpnose puffer |
74.9 |
few |
|
21. Redband parrotfish |
74.2 |
few-many |
|
22. Ocean surgeonfish |
70.5 |
few-many |
|
23. French grunt |
70.3 |
few |
|
24. Coney |
68.2 |
few |
|
25. Saddled blenny |
66.9 |
few-many |
References and Further Reading
- Reef Environmental Education Foundation
- Geographic Zone Report- 06-03-2009
- REEF Fish Gallery
- Humann, P. and N. Deloach (Editor), 1994. Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL. ISBN: 1878348078
