Midnight parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus) and yellowtail snappers (Ocyurus chrysurus) swimming near a coral reef

Alternative Title

HK-2 Cayos Miskitos

Creator

John C. OgdenFollow

Files

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Creation Date

11-1-1977

Abstract

Photograph of a midnight parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus) swimming above a seagrass bed near a coral reef at Research Station HK-2 at the Miskito Cays, Nicaragua. Parrotfish species, like the midnight parrotfish, are important ecologically because they eat algae on coral reefs which would otherwise crowd out corals and they generate sand by digesting pieces of corals into smaller pieces. The map (https://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0070396/00001/1j) in the "Cruise Narrative and Log" section of the Miskito Bank Expedition, Nicaragua binder of the Dr. John Ogden Florida and Caribbean Reef Collection shows the exact location of Research Station HK-2 at the Miskito Cays, Nicaragua. A large boulder with coral growing on it is behind the midnight parrotfish. Three yellowtail snappers (Ocyurus chrysurus) are seen swimming near the bottom right area of the photograph. An unidentified fish is seen swimming near the top left area of the photograph. The seagrass species seen in the photograph may include turtlegrass (Thalassia testudinum), manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme), and shoal grass (Halodule wrightii). This photograph was taken near the Miskito Cays, Nicaragua during the research expedition of Dr. John C. Ogden and his colleagues to Miskito Bank, Nicaragua aboard the R/V [Research Vessel] Alpha Helix from October 13, 1977 to November 18, 1977 where their research included studies on seagrasses, fish, sea urchins, and the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas).

Keywords

Marine biology--Research, Miskito Coast (Nicaragua and Honduras), Ecological surveys, Coral reefs and islands--Caribbean Sea, Marine Plants, Seagrasses, Fishes--Research, Parrotfishes

Extent

2 x 2 inches cardboard projector slide with Kodachrome 35mm color photographic film

Physical Collection

Dr. John Ogden Caribbean and Coral Reef collection

Digital Date

2023

Media Type

Color slides

Identifier

O19-00040

Recommended Citation

Ogden, John C., "Midnight parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus) and yellowtail snappers (Ocyurus chrysurus) swimming near a coral reef" (1977). Binder 04: Photographs and Images. Image 46.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ogden_images/46