Vieques Island: Species Life History

Species Life History - Fish

Bicolor Damselfish

The bicolor damselfish is found in shallow and deep water over coral reefs (NOAA 2004). The bicolor damselfish diet is composed mostly of plankton (Thresher 1980).

Female damselfish spawn by depositing their eggs on a piece of coral or rock. The male follows the female and fertilizes the eggs as she lays them. The male then chases the female away and guards the eggs until, after a period of 4 to 7 days; the larvae emerge in a planktonic form (Thresher 1980).

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Blackear Wrasse

The blackear wrasse is part of a group of wrasses referred to as cigar-shaped wrasses. Adult and juvenile blackear wrasse live in seagrass beds and are often found in water as shallow as a few feet deep (NOAA 2004; Thresher 1980). Cigar-shaped wrasses will eat any small organism that is available. Wrasse in the northern Caribbean Sea spawn during the summer months. Wrasse eggs, which are released into the water column in a planktonic form, develop into planktonic larvae. After an unknown period, the planktonic larvae mature into benthic juveniles (Thresher 1980).

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Fishbase: Blackear wrasse

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Goatfish

Spotted goatfish

Yellow goatfish

Spotted goatfish eat crabs, shrimp, other benthic crustaceans, marine worms, and bivalves. They use barbels, slender tactile organs on the lips, to locate and eat benthic invertebrates that are hiding in the sand or under rocks. Adult spotted goatfish forage in small schools among rubble, sandy, or muddy areas adjacent to reefs. Juveniles often swim in seagrass beds, which shelter them from predators (NOAA 2004).

The yellow goatfish is found over sandy areas of lagoon and seaward reefs, often in schools. Juveniles are commonly found in seagrass beds. They feed on benthic invertebrates (NOAA 2004).

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Great Barracuda

Great barracuda are present in a range of habitats, including coral reefs, sea grass beds, and mangrove wetlands. Once they reach maturity, great barracuda spawn in offshore waters, and larval and juvenile great barracuda reside in mangrove wetlands and sea grass beds. Barracuda are generally solitary and their diet is composed mostly of other fish (NOAA 2004).

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Groupers

Nassau grouper

Red hind grouper

The Nassau grouper is a top-level predator found from inshore to about 100 m. Adults live in shallow and deep water in coral reef areas or areas with rocky bottoms to a depth of at least 90 m. Juveniles (25-150 mm) are mostly found in more sheltered areas such as seagrass beds and in and around coral clumps covered with macroalgae. Nassau grouper occasionally form schools but generally live alone. They are late-maturing (between 4-7 years). They reach a maximum size of about 100 cm and 25 kg.

Red hind grouper also occur in shallow reefs and over rocky bottoms. Red hind are solitary and territorial. Both red hind and Nassau grouper feed on other fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, and octopus. (NOAA 2004).

In general the spawning season for groupers is from early spring to early summer (Thresher 1984). Nassau grouper spawn in large groups. The female Nassau groupers spawn by releasing their eggs into the water column. The males then circle the females and release their milt into the water column around the eggs (Thresher 1984).

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Grunts

French grunt

Bluestriped grunt

White grunt

Adult French grunt live in large schools over rocky areas and coral reefs. Juveniles are mostly present in nearshore seagrass beds. The French grunt diet consists mostly of small crustaceans (NOAA 2004).

Little information is available regarding the details of French grunt spawning but in general grunt spawn in the water column (Nelson 1994, as cited in Froese and Pauly 2002). It is likely that low numbers of French Grunt spawn throughout the year (Gaut and Monroe 1974, as cited in CFMC 2004).

Adult bluestriped grunt live in small schools over rocky areas and coral reefs. Juveniles are commonly found in seagrass beds. The diet of the striped grunt is primarily composed of crustaceans, bivalves, and occasionally small fishes (NOAA 2004). In general grunt spawn in the water column (Nelson 1994, as cited in Froese and Pauly 2002). In the Caribbean Sea bluestriped grunt have been observed exhibiting pre-spawn behavior in January and March (Erdman 1976, as cited in CFMC 2004).

White grunt is found in dense aggregations during the day on patch reefs or sandy bottoms. Juveniles are common in seagrass beds. White grunt frequently exhibits a territorial "kissing" display.

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Parrotfish

Redband parrotfish

Stoplight parrotfish

Adult redband and stoplight parrotfish are commonly found over coral reefs. Juveniles are generally found in more sheltered areas such as seagrass beds (NOAA 2004). Parrotfish are herbivores that eat algae off rocks and coral. Most species of parrotfish spawn throughout the year; for some species the peak number of individuals spawning occurs during the summer. Male and female parrotfish reproduce by depositing their eggs and sperm in deep water during high tide (NOAA 2004; Thrasher 1984).

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Peacock Flounder

The peacock flounder is the most common flounder around coral reefs. It inhabits sandy areas among mangroves, seagrass, coral, or rubble. It camouflages itself by changing colors while remaining immobile on the bottom; it also often buries itself in the sand with just its eyes exposed. It feeds mainly on small fishes, but also on crustaceans and octopuses (NOAA 2004).

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Queen Triggerfish

The queen triggerfish feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates. It preys on sea urchins by blowing water, overturning the sea urchin and exposing its less-protected underside. The triggerfish is an excellent food fish but occasionally can cause intoxication due to the liver (NOAA 2004).

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Sergeant Major

The sergeant major damselfish live in the nearshore area where food and shelter are available. The sergeant major has a varied diet composed of algae, small crustaceans and fish, and benthic invertebrates (NOAA 2004).

Sergeant majors are found in coral reefs and seagrass beds. Adults are common in shallow reef areas and juveniles are frequently found in tidal pools. They vigorously guard their feeding territories and their eggs. During the breeding period, males will turn blue when guarding eggs (NOAA 2004).

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Smooth Trunkfish

Smooth trunkfish are common through out the Caribbean. They have rigid box-like bodies composed of hard scales that are fused together. They can grow to a length of 30 cm (12 inches). When threatened, trunkfish can release toxins that kill other fish. They feed on a wide variety of small bottom invertebrates, including mollusks, crustaceans, worms, sessile tunicates, and sponges. Trunkfish expose the invertebrates by using a jet of water ejected through their mouths (NOAA 2004).

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Snappers

Gray snapper

Mutton snapper

Schoolmaster

Lane snapper

Yellowtail snapper

Adult gray snapper are found in a variety of habitats including nearshore and offshore coastal reef areas, rocky areas, mangrove wetland areas, and the lower reaches of coastal rivers. Juvenile gray snapper commonly live in mangrove wetlands and seagrass beds. Gray snapper feed at night on small fish, shrimp, crab, and other invertebrates (USEPA 2004a).

Adult mutton snapper live in coral and rock structures in both offshore and nearshore areas. Juveniles generally live in mangroves and seagrass beds, which provide protection from predators. Mutton snapper feed during the day and at night on fish, shrimp, crab, and other invertebrates (NOAA 2004).

Adult schoolmaster live over shallow coral reef areas. Juvenile schoolmaster take shelter in seagrass beds, muddy bottomed lagoons, and in mangrove wetlands. The schoolmaster diet is mostly composed of crustaceans (NOAA 2004).

Lane snapper live in a variety of habitats but are most commonly found in large schools near coral reefs and in areas with sandy bottoms and vegetation (NOAA 2004). The diet of lake snapper is mostly composed of small fish and crabs, shrimps, worms, gastropods, and cephalopods (Allen 1985, as cited in Froese and Pauly 2002).

Yellowtail snapper live in schools over shallow coral reefs (NOAA 2004). The diet of yellowtail snapper is mostly composed of fish, crustaceans, worms gastropods, and cephalopods (Allen 1985, as cited in Froese and Pauly 2002).

In tropical waters, many species of snapper spawn during most months of the year. Snapper migrate to the outer edge of the coral reefs to spawn in the water column (Thresher 1984).

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