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Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: Fish ID List
Bonaire Talk: Bonaire Nature & Nature Organizations: Fish and Sealife of Bonaire: Fish ID List
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter on Wednesday, June 9, 1999 - 8:56 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Here is the list compiled from our local expert, Jerry Ligon, and the REEF list. A few were added that our local divemasters and experts have seen but not surveyed by REEF. And a few were deleted as mis-identified species. Keep in mind the list only covers fish found by divers and snorkelers. Many of our bluewater fish like marlin, yellowfin tuna, dolphin fish and even a confirmed mola mola sighting are not covered in the list.

Bonaire Reef Fish ID list:

Atlantic SpadefishBandtail Searobin
BalloonfishBanded Butterflyfish
Bandtail PufferBar Jack
Barred BlennyBarred Cardinalfish
Barred HamletBarsnout Goby
BeaugregoryBelted Cardinalfish
Bermuda Chub/Yellow ChubBicolor Damselfish
BigeyeBigtooth Cardinalfish
Black BrotulaBlack Durgon
Black GrouperBlack Hamlet
Black JackBlack Margate
Blackbar SoldierfishBlackear Wrasse
Blackedge TriplefinBlackfin Snapper
Blackhead BlennyBlue Angelfish
Blue ChromisBlue Parrotfish
Blue RunnerBlue Tang
BlueheadBluespotted Cornetfish
Bluestriped GruntBoga
BonefishBonnetmouth
Bridle CardinalfishBridled Goby
Broadbanded MorayBroadstripe Goby
Brown ChromisBrown Garden Eel
Bucktooth ParrotfishButter Hamlet
Caesar GruntCandy Bass
Cardinal SoldierfishCave Bass
CeroChain Moray
Chalk BassCherubfish
Chestnut MorayClown Wrasse
Cocoa DamselfishColon Goby
Comb GrouperCommon Snook
ConeyCottonwick
Creole -FishCreole Wrasse
Crevalle JackCubera Snapper
Dash GobyDoctorfish
Dog SnapperDowny Blenny
Dusky BlennyDusky Cardinalfish
Dusky DamselfishDusky Squirrelfish
Dwarf BlennyEyed Flounder
Fairy BassletFlagfin Mojarra
FlamefishFlat Needlefish
Flying GurnardFoureye Butterflyfish
French AngelfishFrench Grunt
Glasseye SnapperGlassy Sweeper
Golden HamletGoldentail Moray
Goldline BlennyGoldspot Goby
Goldspotted EelGray Angelfish
Gray SnapperGraysby
Great BarracudaGreater Soapfish
Green MorayGreen Razorfish
Greenblotch ParrotfishHairy Blenny
Harlequin BassHarlequin Pipefish
HighhatHogfish
Honeycomb CowfishHorse-Eye Jack
HoundfishHovering Goby
Hybrid HamletInshore Lizardfish
Irish PompanoIsland Goby
Jackknife -FishJewfish
Jolthead PorgyKeeltail Needlefish
Lane SnapperLantern Bass
Lofty TriplefinLongfin Damselfish
Longhorn BlennyLongjaw Squirrelfish
Longlure FrogfishLongsnout Butterflyfish
Longsnout SeahorseLongspine Squirrelfish
Mackerel ScadMahogany Snapper
Manytoothed CongerMasked Goby/Glass Goby
Midnight ParrotfishMolly Miller
Mottled MojarraMushroom Scorpionfish
Mutton SnapperNassau Grouper
Night SergeantNineline Goby
Ocean SurgeonfishOcean Triggerfish
Orangesided GobyOrangespotted Filefish
Orangespotted GobyPale Cardinalfish
Pallid GobyPalometa
Peacock FlounderPearly Razorfish
Peppermint BassPeppermint Goby
PermitPorcupinefish
PorkfishPrincess Parrotfish
PuddingwifePurple Reeffish
Purplemouth MorayQueen Angelfish
Queen ParrotfishQueen Triggerfish
Rainbow ParrotfishRainbow Runner
Rainbow WrasseRed Clingfish
Red HindRed Lizardfish
Red SnapperRedband Parrotfish
Redeye TriplefinRedfin Parrotfish
Redlip BlennyRedspotted Hawkfish
Redtail ParrotfishReef Butterflyfish
Reef ScorpionfishReef Shark
Reef SquirrelfishRinged Blenny
Rock BeautyRock Hind
Rosy RazorfishRound Scad
Rusty GobySaddled Blenny
Sailfin BlennySailors Choice
Sand DiverSand Tilefish
Sargassum TriggerfishTripletail
Tow-spot BassSaucereye Porgy
Sawcheek CardinalfishSchool Bass
SchoolmasterScrawled Cowfish
Scrawled FilefishSeaweed Blenny
Secretary BlennySergeant Major
Sharknose GobySharksucker
Sharpnose PufferSharptail Eel
Shortfin PipefishShortnose Batfish
Shortstripe GobyShy Hamlet
Silver PorgySilversides/ Herrings/ Anchovies
Slender FilefishSlippery Dick
Smallmouth GruntSmooth Trunkfish
Southern SennetSouthern Stingray
Spanish GruntSpanish Hogfish
Spinyhead BlennySponge Cardinalfish
Spotfin ButterflyfishSpotfin Hogfish
Spotlight GobySpotted Drum
Spotted Eagle RaySpotted Goatfish
Spotted GobySpotted Moray
Spotted ScorpionfishSpotted Snake Eel
Spotted SoapfishSpotted Spoon-nose Eel
Spotfin HogfishSpotted Trunkfish
SquirrelfishStoplight Parrotfish
Striped ParrotfishSunshine Fish
SunshinefishTarpon
Threeline BassletThreespot Damselfish
Tiger GobyTiger Grouper
TobaccofishTomtate
TrumpetfishTrunkfish
Twospot CardinalfishViper Moray
Web BurrfishWhite Grunt
White MargateWhite Mullet
Whitefin SharksuckerWhitenose Pipefish
Whitespotted FilefishWhitespotted Soapfish
Whitestar CardinalfishYellow Goatfish
Yellow JackYellowbelly Hamlet
Yellowcheek WrasseYellowface Pikeblenny
Yellowfin GrouperYellowfin Mojarra
Yellowhead JawfishYellowhead Wrasse
Yellowline GobyYellowmouth Grouper
Yellownose GobyYellowprow Goby
Yellowtail DamselfishYellowtail Hamlet
Yellowtail ReeffishYellowtail Snapper

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Chalk on Thursday, June 10, 1999 - 5:01 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Hey Linda,

What about whale shark, hammerhead shark, coronet fish, conger eel and manta ray?

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter on Thursday, June 10, 1999 - 5:19 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I'm working on the shark list. So far I have:
Whale Shark
Hammerhead
Bull
Nurse
Tiger
Reef Shark (already listed)

The coronet fish is listed under 'Bluespotted coronet fish'. The conger eel is under 'Manytoothed Conger'.

The manta will be added as well, but do you know of any other rays that should be included? We have the Spotted Eagle Ray and the Southern Stingray listed already.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry Ligon on Wednesday, June 23, 1999 - 5:11 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

REEF has just finished a week of diving,June 19, with over 250 fish surveys taken. We don't have the official species list yet but I am sure we tallied over 220 species with some reported for the first time. For sure we can add short-fin sweeper and snakefish. Will advise when every thing has been tallied. Jerry

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jerry Ligon on Wednesday, June 23, 1999 - 5:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda, after looking over the shark list that Jack mentioned, I have one other to add. A smooth dogfish shark, Mustelus canis, was brought up from over 500 feet off Klein by a fisherman. When I was shown the shark, about 3.5 feet long, I noticed 3 tiny ones in the bottom of the boat, and the fisherman told me that when he got the shark aboard she gave birth to the pups. I have one frozen in my freezer. It is a common shark inhabiting bays and inshore waters usually found in waters at depths less than 10 fathoms (60 ft) which makes it a possibility of seeing although no one that I know has ever reported a small sandy colored bottom-dwelling shark. It is a very opportunistic feeder and easily caught by using almost any bait. I think we should add any species that we can positively identify that we encounter, even whale sharks, and the mola mola. Jerry

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By H.T.Souverein on Friday, December 31, 1999 - 10:44 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

who has seen a Hogfish Lachnolaimus Maximus on Bonaire.
Not the spanish Hogfish,in the last jear.
And is this a common fish around bonaire

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter on Tuesday, January 4, 2000 - 10:55 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

The spanish hogfish is a regular on the reef but not the other Hogfish. I've seen one in the 2.5 years I've lived here.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jean Wood on Sunday, January 9, 2000 - 2:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Three questions:
1. I didn't see "BALLYHOO" on the fish list, Jerry Ligon's the one who first pointed them out to us at Bari Reef,
2. any other new fish to be added due to the "REEF" survey Jerry mentions above?
3. last year (late February) we saw several flying fish during the boat trip between Sand Dollar and Klein (Ebo's Special and Carl's Hill), what would they most likely to have been?
And a comment:
We found this board during the week of "Lenny", and have been visiting every day since to hear what's new. Also, we'll be there for our 3rd year in a row for Winter Vacation (this year, 28 January thru 7 February).
Thank you all for a very interesting and informative site.
Chet Wood

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter on Monday, January 17, 2000 - 11:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

I have checked the list with REEF and the Ballyhoo and Mirrorwing Flyingfish have been added. It will take me awhile to compare the two lists and see what is new. Once I have that done I will post an update.

If you would like to look at the report yourself, you can run it at REEF's web site. Use the code 8503 for Bonaire.
http://www.reef.org/survey/familyrep.htm

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jean Wood on Monday, January 17, 2000 - 10:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Linda,
Thank a lot for the response. We saw the Ballyhoo both of the last two years, and am surprised that their SF% on the REEF report is so low. Also, thanks for directing me to the REEF sight, eventhough I've actually done a survey for them, I didn't realize the 'composit' reports were available on their site. Now that I've printed out both the 'ALL' observers and only the 'EXPERT' observers lists, I'll probably spend my whole lunch break at work tomorrow comparing lists. Still want to know which of the flying fish we most likely saw during the boat trip to Klein. Thanks again and in exactly 11 days from right now, we should be entering our room at the Sand Dollar for our 10 day stay.
Chet Wood

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter on Tuesday, January 18, 2000 - 9:09 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Jerry explained to me about the low count on certain fish like flying fish. We see them just about everytime we go on a boat ride but since that is not during a dive or snorkel those fish are not surveyed. The Ballyhoo is a surface dweller like the needlefish and houndfish so many divers miss them on their way to the reef. Just like many people miss the obvious Brown and Blue Chromis. They are in the water column but everyone is staring at the reef. Good "hunting".

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jean Wood on Tuesday, January 18, 2000 - 9:46 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Yes, that was a lesson learned from Jerry two years ago on our first visit to Bonaire during the free snorkel tour of Bari Reef. He showed us the worth of looking up and down in the water so as not to miss the non-bottom dwelling species. We've seen many needlefish and ballyhoo (and a 12 member 'platoon' of squid) by snorkling out over the reef and occasionally looking just below the surface. Also to remember to look away from the reef while diving to see what may be swimming by in the deep water.
Chet

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Linda Richter on Wednesday, January 19, 2000 - 2:33 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

With Chet's help comparing lists and sending me the differences, I've completed the new list. Rather than post it entirely to this page, I've created a new web page to hold all the information. Mainly because it is a real pain to try to update and format the list within the newsgroup. The added benefit is if you want to print it out, it won't be as many pages ;-)
So here it is: http://www.infobonaire.com/fishidlist.html

I tried to state how the list was developed. One very interesting issue is the Ballyhoo. I specifically had an email discussion with Jerry (May 99) about the Ballyhoo listing with REEF. It turns out there have been two survey sightings by novices on Bonaire but the vast majority of Caribbean sightings have been in the Virgin Islands. Jerry said he has never seen one in his 8 years on Bonaire. Fisherman catch a similiar species which might be the Houndfish or the Balao per my husband. So Chet when you get to Bonaire for vacation, check in with Jerry and figure out this Ballyhoo thing.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jean Wood on Wednesday, January 19, 2000 - 9:06 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

I will definately check out this Ballyhoo thing, because it was during a guided snorkel with Jerry Ligon on Bari Reef that he pointed them out to us (at least that's the way I remember it). By the way, I highly recommend the fish ID snorkel tours of Bari Reef offered at the Sand Dollar; we had never been diving in anything other than Mid-western lakes (we're from northern Illinois) until our first trip to Bonaire two years ago; learned a whole lot about the local fish during that hour with Jerry. Also,we just came in from shoveling 5 inches of snow off our driveway, and it's still snowing.
9 days to go!
Chet

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob neer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #756) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 12:30 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

are these two fish the same type??? is it adapting to the background color???

(not real clear, sorry...)

fish1
fish2

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3925) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 12:37 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Top fish is a honeycomb cow fish (note the horns). Bottom one is a spotted trunkfish. Both are in the boxfish family, but different species.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By bob neer (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #782) on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 12:38 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

thanks ;)

(i did finally find a web pic of the spotted trunk - was not coming up with anything searching for cowfish varieties)



 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bud Gillan (BonaireTalker - Post #74) on Saturday, April 19, 2003 - 8:22 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Blacktip Shark.
Flying Fish.
Cobia.


This can be added to the list.

Bud

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Biodiversity Guy (BonaireTalker - Post #30) on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 - 3:26 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Got a new species for the Bonaire Fish list.

My wife and I were suiting up to go diving at Buddy Reef when a couple of the dive masters started pointing at the water and saying: new fish.

They were pointing into a mass of wood/reeds floating at the surface. Just below the floating debris was a Sargassum pipefish! I got good looks (even had a magnifying glass). Checked the Fish ID book and it fit both the ID and range. But when I checked the REEF listing from Nov 06 for Bonaire, the species was not listed.

I have mailed off my REEF survey from that dive so it should be listed soon.

I spoke to one of the older dive masters. He said he had seen the species before, but only rarely. My guess is that it might be more common that it appears, but that there is so little floating wood (habitat) in the water off of Bonaire and divers rarely stop to check it out, so the species eludes detection.

 


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