Hallclioeres poeyl (Stelndachner) . Black&ar Wrasse 



This species was occasionally seen on reefs in LamesBur Bay active 

 by day in depths to at least 15 m. During feeding trials on th.e 

 reef near the habitat, several H. poeyi responded quickly, swimming 

 directly from a coral head to Codium is thmo c 1 adiim and Halimeda 

 incrassata placed on open sand 1 1/2 m away. Bites were repeatedly 

 taken from each clump of plants. Stomach contents of 34 specimens 

 examined by Randall (1967) included only animal material, and the 

 species is recorded by Randall (1968) and Bohlke and Chapin (1968) 

 as primarily a resident of sea grass beds. 



Scaridae. The Parrotfishes 



Parrotfishes are perhaps the most conspicuous and abundant resident 

 fishes on the reefs observed in Lameshur Bay. The 13 species known 

 in the Caribbean are principally herbivorous , and therefore are of 

 particular interest for this study, but most are difficult to 

 determine in the field because of general similarity of form, great 

 color variations, sexual differences and general lack of good 

 distinguishing features. Spotting a scarid as a scarid is usually 

 easy; determining species is usually difficult. Treatment of the 

 family by Bohlke and Chapin (1968) is especially helpful in making 

 identifications . 



In general, all parrotfishes observed were seen during the day on 

 the reef and to at least 60 m seaward on the algal plain. By night, 

 several individuals were found inactive, in crevices. Notes included 

 here are on fishes that I believe were accurately identified. 



Scarus coeruleus (Bloch) . Blue Parrotfish 



Young individuals were occasionally seen, usually alone, but on 

 July 17, a group of five moved along the reef edge to the algal 

 plain and began to graze on TJdotea at 0625 hours. No large humped 

 adults were observed. 



No reports have been found on the stomach contents of this species, 

 but individuals during feeding trials were observed eating Halimeda , 

 TJdotea , and the sea grass , Syringodium . Longley and Hildebrand C1928) 

 reported that food is usually taken by browsing over the. bottom, but 

 once a school of S^. coeruleus was observed eating great mouthfuls 

 of filamentous algae, and they were sometimes seen feeding actively 

 on what seemed to be "perfectly bare sand." 



VI-148 



