Fish and Coral Species Lists Compiled by Coral Cay Conservation: Belize 1990-1998

Home , Apogon maculatus, Bandtail puffer, Blackcap basslet, Caesar grunt, Chromis insolata, Dusky jawfish

FISH AND CORAL SPECIES LISTS COMPILED BY CORAL CAY CONSERVATION: BELIZE 1990-1998

- Edited by -

Alastair Harborne, Marine Science Co-ordinator

September 2000

CORAL CAY CONSERVATION LTD The Tower, 125 High St., Colliers Wood, London SW19 2JG TEL: +44 (0)20 8545 7721 FAX: +44 (0)870 750 0667 Email: [email protected] www: http://www.coralcay.org/

This report is part of a series of working documents detailing CCC’s science programme on Turneffe Atoll (1994-1998). The series is also available on CD-Rom. CCC fish and coral species lists

1. INTRODUCTION

Between 1986 and 1998, Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) provided data and technical assistance to the Belize Department of Fisheries, Coastal Zone Management Unit and Coastal Zone Management Project under the remit of a Memorandum of Understanding. This work has provided data for seven proposed or established marine protected areas at South Water Cay, Bacalar Chico, Sapodilla Cays, Snake Cays, Laughing Bird Cay, Caye Caulker and Turneffe Atoll (Figure 1). These projects have generally provided habitat maps, the associated databases and management recommendations to assist reserve planning.

In addition to the data collection, training, capacity building and environmental education undertaken by CCC, the expeditions have also provided opportunities for compiling presence / absence species lists of fish and corals in the different project areas. This document contains the fish list compiled by CCC staff and experienced volunteers and a reprint of Fenner (1999) detailing coral taxonomy in Belize and Cozumel, the Belize component of which was compiled while the author was working as a member of CCC’s field science staff.

2. FISH SPECIES LIST

During baseline surveys (see Raines et al., 19931 for full details of the methodology) CCC science staff compiled lists of fish species encountered at each expedition site. Species are only added when CCC staff have either seen the fish themselves or trust the sighting of an experienced volunteer. ‘Possible’ sightings are not included in the lists given here. Any species that represents a range extension from published literature is only included if witnessed by CCC science staff.

2.1 Checklist notes

?? Shading highlights species recorded in only one study area. ?? Latin and common names taken from: Humann, P. 1996. Reef fish identification. New World Publications, Inc. ?? Abundances modified from the original 0-5 ‘DAFOR’ used during standard CCC baseline surveys. Scale = Dominant, Abundant, Frequent, Occasional, Rare. Abundance indicates the probability of seeing a given fish species during a survey dive. Abundances averaged across all habitat types and study areas. ?? Hypoplectrus spp. (hamlets) listed as separate species pending further research. ?? Sanopus astrifer (whitespotted toadfish), Sanopus greenfieldorum (whitelined toadfish), Sanopus reticulatus (reticulated toadfish), Sanopus splendidus (splendid toadfish) are listed as vulnerable, but also data deficient, within IUCN’s Red List. ?? List is not intended as exhaustive for cryptic species such as Gobiidae and Blenniidae but those species that have been identified are included for completion.

1 Raines, P.S., D. McCorry, P.J. Mumby and J.M. Ridley. 1992. Coral Cay Conservation – survey techniques and their application in Belize. Proceedings of the 7th International Coral Reef Symposium 1: 122-126. 1

CCC fish and coral species lists

Belize : Coastal & Marine Protected Areas

Shipstern

Bacalar Chico

Hol Chan

Cay Caulker

Burdon Canal

BlueBlu Hole Half Moon Cay Coral Reef Hal Calabash Cay, Reserves Turneffe Atoll Designated Protected Areas Proposed Protected Areas

Glovers Reef

South W ater Cays

Paynes Creek Laughing Bird Cay

Sapodilla Cays Snake Cays

Figure 1. Designated and proposed marine and coastal protected areas of Belize, highlighting the location of CCC’s expeditions sites since 1986. Source: Coastal Zone Management Project.

CCC fish and coral species lists

Latin Name Common Name Bacalar Chico Turneffe South Water Cay Sapodilla Snake Unspecified Abundance Marine Reserve Atoll Marine Reserve Cays Cays Acanthuridae ? ? ? ? ? ? Acanthurus Ocean surgeon fish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent bahianus Acanthurus Doctorfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent chirurgus Acanthurus Blue tang ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Common coeruleus ? ? ? ? ? ? Albulidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Albula vulpes Bonefish ?? ?? ? ? ?? ? Occasional ? ? ? ? ? ? Apogonidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Apogon binotatus Barred cardinalfish ?? ?? ? ?? ? Occasional Apogon lachneri Whitestar ?? ? ? ? ? Rare cardinalfish Apogon maculatus Flamefish ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Rare Apogon Twospot cardinalfish ?? ? ? ? ?? ? Rare pseudomaculatus Apogon townsendi Belted cardinalfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare Astrapogon Conchfish ? ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare stellatus ? ? ? ? ? ? Aulostomidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Aulostomus Trumpetfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent maculatus ? ? ? ? ? ? Balistidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Aluterus schoepfi Orange filefish ? ? ? ? ?? ? Rare Aluterus scriptus Scrawled filefish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional Balistes capriscus Gray triggerfish ?? ? ? ? ? Rare Balistes vetula Queen triggerfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent Cantherhines Whitespotted filefish ?? ?? ? ? ?? ? Rare macroceros Cantherhines Orangespotted ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional pullus filefish Canthidemis Ocean triggerfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare sufflamen Melichthys niger Black durgon ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Frequent Monacanthus Slender filefish ?? ? ? ? ? Rare tuckeri Xanthichthys Sargassum ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare ringens triggerfish ? ? ? ? ? ? Batrachoididae ? ? ? ? ? ? Batrachoides Large eye toadfish ?? ? ? ?? ? Rare gilberti Sanopus Whitelined toadfish ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare greenfieldorum Sanopus Splendid toadfish ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare splendidus ? ? ? ? ? ? Belonidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Ablennes hians Flat needlefish ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Occasional Strongylura notata Redfin needlefish ? ? ? ? ?? Rare Tylosurus Houndfish ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare crocodilus

Bothidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Bothus lunatus Peacock flounder ?? ?? ? ? ?? ? Rare

CCC fish and coral species lists

Latin Name Common Name Bacalar Chico Turneffe South Water Cay Sapodilla Snake Unspecified Abundance Marine Reserve Atoll Marine Reserve Cays Cays Carcharhinidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Carcharhinus Reef shark ? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare perezi Negaprion Lemon shark ? ? ?? ? ? ? Rare brevirostris ? ? ? ? ? ? Carangidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Caranx Yellow jack ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional batholomaei Caranx crysos Blue runner ?? ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare Caranx hippos Crevalle jack ? ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare Caranx latus Horse-eye jack ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Occasional Caranx lugubris Black jack ? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare Caranx ruber Bar jack ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Common Decapterus Mackerel scad ?? ? ? ? ? ? Rare macarellus Elagatis Rainbow Runner ?? ? ? ? ? Rare bipinnulata Trachinotus Permit ?? ? ? ? ? ? Occasional falcatus Trachinotus Palometa ? ?? ? ? ?? ? Rare goodei ? ? ? ? ? ? Centropomidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Centropomus Common snook ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare undecimalis ? ? ? ? ? ? Chaetodontidae Chaetodon Longsnout ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional aculeatus butterflyfish Chaetodon Foureye butterflyfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent capistratus Chaetodon Spotfin butterflyfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent ocellatus Chaetodon Reef butterflyfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare sedentarius Chaetodon striatus Banded butterflyfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent ? ? ? ? ? ? Cirrhitidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Amblycirrhitus Redspotted hawkfish ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare pinos ? ? ? ? ? ? Clinidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Acanthemblemaria Spinyhead blenny ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare spinosa Chaenopsis Bluethroat ?? ? ? ? ? ? Rare ocellata pikeblenny Emblemaria Sailfin blenny ? ? ? ? ? ?? Rare pandionis Lucayablennius Arrow blenny ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Occasional zingaro Malacoctenus Diamond blenny ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare boehlkei Malacoctenus Rosy blenny ? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare macropus Malacoctenus Saddled blenny ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare triangulatus Ophioblennius Redlip blenny ? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare atlanticus ? ? ? ? ? ? Congridae ? ? ? ? ? ? Heteroconger halis Garden eel ? ?? ? ? ?? ? Occasional ? ? ? ? ? ?

CCC fish and coral species lists

Latin Name Common Name Bacalar Chico Turneffe South Water Cay Sapodilla Snake Unspecified Abundance Marine Reserve Atoll Marine Reserve Cays Cays Dasyatidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Dasyatis Southern stingray ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional americana ? ? ? ? ? ? Echeneidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Echenesis Remora ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Rare naucrates ? ? ? ? ? ? Elopidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Megalops Tarpon ?? ?? ? ?? ?? ? Occasional atlanticus ? ? ? ? ? ? Ephippidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Chaetodipterus Atlantic spadefish ?? ? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare faber ? ? ? ? ? ? Exocoetidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Hemiramphus Ballyhoo / Balao ?? ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare brasiliensis / balao Hirundichthys Mirrorwing ?? ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare speculiger flyingfish ? ? ? ? ? ? Gerreidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Eucinostomus Mottled mojarra ?? ? ? ? ? Rare lefroyi Gerres cinereus Yellowfin mojarra ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional ? ? ? ? ? ? Gobiidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Coryphopterus Colon goby ? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare dicrus Coryphopterus Pallid goby ? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare eidolon Coryphopterus Bridled goby ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare glaucofraenum Coryphopterus Peppermint goby ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare lipernes Coryphopterus Masked goby ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare personatus Gnatholepsis Goldspot goby ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare thompsoni Gobionellus Dash goby ?? ? ? ? ? ? Occasional saepepallens Gobiosoma Orangesided goby ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare dilepsis Gobiosoma Sharknose goby ?? ? ? ? ? Occasional evelynae Gobiosoma genie Cleaning goby ? ? ? ? ? ?? Occasional Gobiosoma horsti Yellowline goby ?? ? ?? ? ? ? Rare Gobiosoma Barsnout goby ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare illecebrosum Gobiosoma Neon goby ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Frequent oceanops Gobiosoma Broadstripe goby ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare prochilos Lophogobius Crested goby ?? ? ? ? ? ? Rare cyprinoides ? ? ? ? ? ? Grammatidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Gramma loreto Fairy basslet ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent Gramma melacara Blackcap basslet ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional Liopropoma rubre Peppermint bass ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare

CCC fish and coral species lists

Latin Name Common Name Bacalar Chico Turneffe South Water Cay Sapodilla Snake Unspecified Abundance Marine Reserve Atoll Marine Reserve Cays Cays ? ? ? ? ? ? Haemulidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Anisotremus Black margate ?? ?? ? ? ?? ? Occasional surinamensis Anisotremus Porkfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent virginicus Haemulon album Margate ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional Haemulon Tomtate ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional aurolineatum Haemulon Caesar grunt ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare carbonarium Haemulon Smallmouth grunt ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare chrysargyeum Haemulon French grunt ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Abundant flavolineatum Haemulon Spanish grunt ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare macrostomium Haemulon Cottonwick ? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare melanurum Haemulon parrai Sailors choice ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional Haemulon White grunt ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent plumieri Haemulon sciurus Bluestriped grunt ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Abundant Haemulon striatum Striped grunt ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare ? ? ? ? ? ? Holocentridae ? ? ? ? ? ? Holocentrus Squirrelfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent adscensionis Holocentrus Reef squirrelfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional coruscus Holocentrus rufus Longspine ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent squirrelfish Holocentrus Dusky squirrelfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional vexillarius Myripristis Blackbar soldierfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional jacobus Neoniphon Longjaw squirrelfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional marianus ? ? ? ? ? ? Inermiidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Emmelichthyops Bonnetmouth ? ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare atlanticus Inermia vittata Boga ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare ? ? ? ? ? ? Kyphosidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Kyphosus sectatrix Bermuda chub ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Occasional / incisor ? ? ? ? ? ? Labridae ? ? ? ? ? ? Bodianus Spotfin hogfish ? ?? ? ? Rare pulchellus Bodianus rufus Spanish hogfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional Clepticus parrai Creole wrasse ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Frequent Doratonotus Dwarf wrasse ? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare megalepis Halichoeres Slippery dick ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional bivittus Halichoeres Yellowcheek wrasse ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare cyanocephalus Halichoeres Yellowhead wrasse ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent garnoti Halichoeres Clown wrasse ? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare maculipinna Halichoeres Puddingwife ? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare radiatus

CCC fish and coral species lists

Latin Name Common Name Bacalar Chico Turneffe South Water Cay Sapodilla Snake Unspecified Abundance Marine Reserve Atoll Marine Reserve Cays Cays Hemipteronotus Pearly razorfish ?? ? ? ? ? ? Rare novacula Lachnolaimus Hogfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent maximus Thalassoma Bluehead wrasse ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Abundant bifasciatum Xyrichtys Rosy razorfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare martinicensis Xyrichtys spendens Green razorfish ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare ? ? ? ? ? ? Lutjanidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Lutjanus analis Mutton snapper ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent Lutjanus apodus Schoolmaster ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent Lutjanus Cubera snapper ?? ? ? ? ? Rare cyanopterus Lutjanus griseus Gray snapper ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Frequent Lutjanus joco Dog snapper ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional Lutjanus mahogoni Mahogany snapper ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional Lutjanus synagris Lane snapper ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare Ocyurus chrysurus Yellowtail snapper ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Abundant ? ? ? ? ? ? Malacanthidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Malancanthus Sand tilefish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional plumieri ? ? ? ? ? ? Mobulidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Manta birostris Atlantic manta ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare Mobula hypostoma Devil ray ? ? ?? ? ? ? Rare ? ? ? ? ? ? Muglidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Mugil curema White mullet ? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare ? ? ? ? ? ? Mullidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Mulloidichthys Yellow goatfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional martinicus Pseudupeneus Spotted goatfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare maculatus ? ? ? ? ? ? Muraenidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Enchelycore Chestnut moray ?? ? ? ? ? ? Rare carychroa Gymnothorax Green moray ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional funebris Gymnothorax Goldentail moray ?? ? ? ? ?? ? Rare miliaris Gymnothorax Spotted moray ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare moringa Gymnothorax Purplemouth moray ? ? ? ?? ? Rare vicinus ? ? ? ? ? ? Myliobatidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Aetobatus narinari Spotted eagle ray ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Occasional ? ? ? ? ? ? Ogcocephalidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Ogcocephalus Shortnose batfish ?? ? ? ? ? Rare nasutus ? ? ? ? ? ? Ophicthidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Myrichthys Sharptail eel ?? ? ?? ? ?? ? Rare breviceps

CCC fish and coral species lists

Latin Name Common Name Bacalar Chico Turneffe South Water Cay Sapodilla Snake Unspecified Abundance Marine Reserve Atoll Marine Reserve Cays Cays Opistognathidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Opistognathus Yellowhead jawfish ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Occasional aurifrons Opistognathus Banded jawfish ?? ? ? ? ? ? Rare macrognathus Opistognathus Dusky jawfish ? ?? ? ? ?? ? Rare whitehurstii ? ? ? ? ? ? Ostraciidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Lactophrys Spotted trunkfish ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Occasional bicaudalis Lactophyrs Honeycomb cowfish ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare polygonia Lactophrys Scrawled cowfish ?? ?? ? ? ?? ? Occasional quadriconis Lactophrys Trunkfish ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare trigonus Lactophrys Smooth trunkfish ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Rare triqueter ? ? ? ? ? ? Pempheridae ? ? ? ? ? ? Pempheris Glassy sweeper ?? ? ? ? ?? ? Rare schomburgki ? ? ? ? ? ? Pomacanthidae ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Holacanthus Queen angelfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent ciliaris Holacanthus Rock beauty ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Frequent tricolor Pomacanthus Gray angelfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent arcuatus Pomacanthus paru French angelfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent ? ? ? ? ? ? Pomacentridae ? ? ? ? ? ? Abudefduf saxatilis Sergeant major ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent Abudefduf taurus Night sergeant ?? ?? ? ?? ? Rare Chromis cyanea Blue chromis ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Frequent Chromis insolata Sunshinefish ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare Chromis Brown chromis ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional multilineata Microspathodon Yellowtail ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent chrysurus damselfish Stegastes Longfin damselfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional diencaeus Stegastes fuscus Dusky damselfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional Stegastes Beaugregory ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional leucostictus Stegastes partitus Bicolor damselfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent Stegastes Threespot ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Abundant planifrons damselfish Stegastes Cocoa damselfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional variabilis ? ? ? ? ? ? Priacanthidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Priacanthus Bigeye ? ? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare arenatus Priacanthus Glasseye snapper ?? ?? ? ? ?? ? Rare cruentatus ? ? ? ? ? ? Rhincodontidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Ginglymostoma Nurse shark ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare cirratum

CCC fish and coral species lists

Latin Name Common Name Bacalar Chico Turneffe South Water Cay Sapodilla Snake Unspecified Abundance Marine Reserve Atoll Marine Reserve Cays Cays Rhincodon typus Whale shark ? ? ?? ? ? ? Occasional ? ? ? ? ? ? Scaridae ? ? ? ? ? ? Scarus coelestinus Midnight parrotfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare Scarus coeruleus Blue parrotfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare Scarus guacamaia Rainbow parrotfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare Scarus iserti Striped parrotfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional Scarus Princess parrotfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent taeniopterus Scarus vetula Queen parrotfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional Sparisoma Greenblotch ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare atomarium parrotfish Sparisoma Redband parrotfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare aurofrenatum Sparisoma Redtail parrotfish ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Occasional chrysopterum Sparisoma radians Bucktooth parrotfish ?? ?? ? ? ?? ? Rare Sparisoma Yellowtail parrotfish ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Occasional rubripinne Sparisoma viride Stoplight parrotfish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Abundant ? ? ? ? ? ? Sciaenidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Equetus Highhat ?? ? ? ? ?? ? Rare acuminatus Equetus punctatus Spotted drum ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Rare Equetus umbrosus Cubbyu ? ? ? ? ?? ? Rare Odontoscion Reef croaker ?? ?? ? ? ?? ? Occasional dentex ? ? ? ? ? ? Scombridae ? ? ? ? ? ? Scomberomorous Cero ?? ?? ? ? ?? ? Occasional regalis ? ? ? ? ? ? Scorpaenidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Scorpaena Spotted scorpionfish ?? ?? ? ? ?? ? Rare plumieri ? ? ? ? ? ? Serranidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Hypoplectrus Yellowbelly hamlet ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare aberrans Hypoplectrus Yellowtail hamlet ? ?? ?? ? ? Rare chlorurus Hypoplectrus Blue hamlet ? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare gemma Hypoplectrus Golden hamlet ? ?? ?? ? ? Rare gummingatta Hypoplectrus Shy hamlet ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare guttavarius Hypoplectrus Indigo hamlet ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional indigo Hypoplectrus Black hamlet ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Frequent nigricans Hypoplectrus Barred hamlet ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare puella Hypoplectrus sp. Masked hamlet ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare Hypoplectrus sp. Tan hamlet ? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare Hypoplectrus Butter hamlet ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare unicolor ? ? ? ? ? ? Alphestes afer Mutton hamlet ? ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare Cephalopholis Graysby ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent cruentata

CCC fish and coral species lists

Latin Name Common Name Bacalar Chico Turneffe South Water Cay Sapodilla Snake Unspecified Abundance Marine Reserve Atoll Marine Reserve Cays Cays Cephalopholis Coney ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional fulvus Epinephelus Rock hind ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Occasional adscensionis Epinephelus Red hind ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent guttatus Epineplelus Marbled grouper ?? ? ?? ? ? Rare inermis Epinephelus Jewfish ? ?? ? ?? ? ? Rare itajara Ephinephelus Red grouper ? ? ?? ?? ? ? Rare morio Epinephelus Nassau grouper ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Frequent striatus Mycteroperca Black grouper ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Occasional bonaci Mycteroperca Yellowmouth ? ? ? ? ?? Rare interstitialis grouper Mycteroperca Comb grouper ? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare rubra Mycteroperca Tiger grouper ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare tigris Mycteroperca Yellowfin grouper ?? ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare venenosa ? ? ? ? ? ? Paranthias furcifer Creole-fish ? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare Rypticus Greater soapfish ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare saponaceus Serranus baldwini Lantern bass ? ?? ? ? ? ? Rare Serranus Two-spot bass ? ? ? ?? ? Rare flaviventris Serranus Tobaccofish ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare tabacarius Serranus tigrinus Harlequin bass ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional Serranus Chalk bass ? ?? ?? ?? ? ? Rare tortugarium ? ? ? ? ? ? Sparidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Calamus bajonado Jolthead porgy ?? ?? ? ? ? ? Occasional Calamus calamus Saucereye porgy ?? ?? ? ?? ?? ? Frequent ? ? ? ? ? ? Sphyraenidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Sphyraeana Great barracuda ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Common barracuda Sphyraeana Southern sennet ? ? ? ?? ? Rare picudilla ? ? ? ? ? ? Sphyrnidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Sphyrna mokarran Great hammerhead ?? ? ? ? ? Rare ? ? ? ? ? ? Syngnathidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Cosmocampus Shortfin pipefish ?? ? ? ? ? Rare elucens Hippocampus Lined seahorse ? ?? ? ? ? Rare erectus ? ? ? ? ? ? Synodontidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Synodus Sand diver ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Rare intermedius Synodus saurus Bluestriped ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Occasional lizardfish ? ? ? ? ? ? Tetraodontidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Canthigaster Sharpnose puffer ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Frequent rostrata 10

CCC fish and coral species lists

Latin Name Common Name Bacalar Chico Turneffe South Water Cay Sapodilla Snake Unspecified Abundance Marine Reserve Atoll Marine Reserve Cays Cays Chilomycterus Bridled burrfish ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare antennatus Chilomycterus Web burrfish ?? ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare antillarum Diodon Balloonfish ?? ?? ?? ? ? ? Rare holocanthus Diodon hystrix Porcupinefish ?? ?? ?? ? ?? ? Rare Sphoeroides Bandtail puffer ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? Rare spengleri Sphoeroides Checkered puffer ?? ? ? ? ? Rare testudineus ? ? ? ? ? ? Triglidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Prionotus ophryas Bandtail searobin ? ?? ? ? ? Rare ? ? ? ? ? ? Tripterygiidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Enneanectes Lofty triplefin ?? ? ? ? ? ? Rare altivelis Enneanectes Blackedge triplefin ?? ? ? ? ? Rare atrorus ? ? ? ? ? ? Urolophidae ? ? ? ? ? ? Urolophus Yellow stingray ?? ?? ? ?? ?? ? Rare jamaicensis

2.2 Conclusions

Figure 2 summarises results from the species checklist.

300 25 Fish species 250 240 Only record 20 205 200 169 154 15 150 116 118 10 100 Number of species

5 Number of only records 50 4 0 0

Total

Snake Cays Unspecified Bacalar Chico Turneffe Atoll Sapodilla Cays South Water Cay

Figure 2. Summary of the number of species listed on the checklist for five areas surveyed by CCC in Belize. Total number of species also shown. ‘Only record’ refers to the number of species seen only at that location. ‘Unspecified’ represents confirmed sightings from Belize which cannot be allocated to one of the five areas.

CCC fish and coral species lists

Figure 2 shows that the five study areas, covering the whole geographical range of Belize, vary widely in fish species richness. While this almost certainly represents real differences comparisons must be made carefully since the areas differ considerably in size and survey effort. For example, Turneffe Atoll has the highest number of species (205) but is also the largest area (330 km2) and highest survey intensity. Conversely the diverse habitats within the Sapodilla Cays certainly supports more species than documented here.

There are, however, trends that can be seen within the data:

?? A high number of species seen only at Turneffe Atoll shows the importance of offshore atolls for conserving biodiversity. Both Bacalar Chico and South Water Cay (on the barrier reef itself) were surveyed reasonably extensively but 40-50 fewer species were recorded. Study of Belize’s other atolls (Lighthouse Reef and Glovers Atoll) is, therefore, urgently required.

?? A relatively high number of species seen only in the Snake Cays (6 from 118) shows that reefs within the lagoon (i.e. between the mainland and barrier reef) are also important with respect to biodiversity. Habitats in these areas are often unique and more study is recommended.

?? A high total of fish species within the five study areas in evidence for an effective series of marine protected areas in Belize. South Water Cay, Bacalar Chico, the Sapodilla Cays and the Snake Cays are already subject to legislation and protection is planned for Turneffe Atoll. This study shows the importance of a series of complimentary marine reserves for effective conservation of biodiversity.

A paucity of detailed published literature for the fish species of Belize makes comparison with previous studies difficult. It is hoped, therefore, that this checklist will act as a basis for future work. However, it is believed that the following may be range extensions and new records for Belize:

?? Sanopus splendidus - Splendid toadfish ?? Equetus acuminatus - Highhat ?? Equetus umbrosus - Cubbyu ?? Chromis insolatus - Sunshinefish ?? Bodianus pulchellus - Spotfin hogfish ?? Canthidermis sufflamen - Ocean triggerfish ?? Hypoplectrus aberrans - Yellowbelly hamlet

The lists also confirms a range extension for Hypoplectrus gemma (Domeier, 1994)2.

2 Domeier, M.L. 1994. Speciation in the serranid fish Hypoplectrus. Bulletin of Marine Science 54: 103-141 12

CCC fish and coral species lists

3. CORAL SPECIES LIST

CCC’s coral species list has been compiled by Dr Doug Fenner, who worked as a field science staff member in 1994. His finding are summarised in the following paper. The paper is © Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science of the University of Miami.

CCC fish and coral species lists