Common coral reef fishes of Virgin Gorda

Biodiversity (main)

Published: June 16, 2014, 1:47 pm

Topics:

Biodiversity (main) Fisheries (main) Marine Ecology (main) Coral Reefs (main) Oceans and seas (main) Geography (main) Species (main)

(Photographer: Chris Huss Credit: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary - http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/reef2581.htm, via Wikimedia Commons)

Introduction Virgin Gorda isone ofthe British Virgin Islands (Common coral reef fishes of Virgin Gorda) in the Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem). Over260 species of reef fishes have been identified during REEF Fish Surveys in Virgin Gorda.

25 most common species in Virgin Gorda

Masked goby—the reef fish with the highest mean abundance in Virgin Gorda. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994. The following ranking is based on the results of326REEF Fish Surveyscovering a bottom time of272 hours and33 minutes.(REEF Geographic Zone Report. June 4, 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.

Blue tang—the most frequently observed reef fish in Virgin Gorda. Reef Fish Identification, New World Publications © 1994. 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.

Species	% of surveys observed	Mean abundance category
1. Blue tang	94.8	few-many
2. Foureye butterflyfish	91.4	few
3. Stoplight parrotfish	90.2	few-many
4. Sergeant major	84.4	many
5. Yellowtail snapper	81.9	few-many
6. Bivolor damselfish	79.1	few-many
7. Bluehead	77.6	few-many
8. Ocean surgeonfish	77.6	few-many
9. Yellowtail damselfish	77.3	few
10. French grunt	77.0	single-few
11. Bar jack	72.7	few-many
12. Redband parrotfish	69.6	few-many
13. Blue chromis	69.3	few-many
14. Trumpetfish	68.1	single-few
15. Fairy basslet	67.8	few-many
16. Princess parrotfish	65.3	few-many
17. Yellowhead wrasse	64.1	few-many
18. Longspine squirrelfish	63.5	few
19. Spotted goatfish	60.1	few
20.Sharpnose puffer	56.1	few
21. Yellow goatfish	55.8	few-many
22. Barred hamlet	55.2	single-few
23. Striped parrotfish	54.6	few-many
24. Banded butterflyfish	54.3	few
25. Graysby	51.2	single-few

References and Further Reading

• Reef Environmental Education Foundation
• Geographic Zone Report- 06-04-2009
• REEF Fish Gallery
• Humann, P. and N. Deloach (Editor), 1994. Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL. ISBN: 1878348078

Citation

McGinley, M. (2014). Common coral reef fishes of Virgin Gorda. Retrieved from http://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Common_coral_reef_fishes_of_Virgin_Gorda