Key Largo Coral Reef Marine Sanctuary draft environmental impact statement

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Coastal Zone Keyo
* ~~Center
Corals Reef -Marlne Sanctuary

Draft, Environmental Impact Statement

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
August 1975 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Coastal Zone Management
t~R3 1976
80030' 80020 I010

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1979 80020 80010~~BA
AREAOF POPOSD KE ARG AIE ACUR

Key Largo Coral Reef Marine Sanctuary

Table of Contents

Summary
Project Description
Environmental Setting
.. Biology and Geology
. Uses
Proposed Management Systems
Administration
Proposed Rules and Regulations
. Categories
.. Prohibited Activities
Permits
Certification
Research and Monitoring
Enforcement
Penalities
The Relationship of the Proposed Action to Land Use Plans, Policies,
and Controls for the Affected Area
Probable Impact of the Proposed Action on the Environment
Probable Adverse Environmental (User) Effects
The Relationship Between Local Short-Term Use of Man's Environment
and the Maintenance of Long-term Productivity
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
No Sanctuary
Larger Boundaries
Different Regulations
Other Authority
Coordination

COASTAL ZONE
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VI95~~~ ~US Department of Commerce
NOAA Coastal Services Center Library
2234 South Hobson Avenue
(~~~ ~~ ~Charleston, SC 29405-2413
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List of Figures and Appendicies

Figure 1 . Area of Proposed Key Largo Marine Sanctuary

Appendix A .Proclamation No. 3339 and 16 USC 461

Appendix B .A List of Fishes of Alligator Reef, Florida
with Comments on the Nature of the Florida
Reef Fish Fauna
� Basic Plant and Animal Communities
� Bottom Community Chart
� Seasonal Abundance and Migratory Patterns of
Marine Life

Appendix C .aeology

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Summary

Key Largo Coral Reef Marine Sanctuary

Responsible Office: NOAA's Office of Coastal Zone Management,
Rockville, Maryland *OF5VPA

1. Name of Action (X Administrative

2. Description of Action

3. Environmental Impacts

4. Alternatives

1.0 Project Description

It is proposed to establish a recreational and esthetic area encompassing

corals and associated flora and fauna under Title III of the Marine Protection,

Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972. The area will be managed to protect and

conserve the coral and coral reef ecosystems, to regulate uses thereof to insure

the health and well-being of the coral, and associated flora and fauna,, and to

make available the continual opportunity for the esthetic and recreational en-

joyment which healthy reefs afford the American people. The area nominated is

adjacent to but excludes the State of Florida John Pennekamp Coral Reef State

Park, beginning at the three-mile territorial limit and extending seaward to

the 300 toot isobath (Figure 1). Included in the nominated area is the Key

Largo Coral Reef Preserve (Appendix A).

Coordinates for the proposed marine sanctuary are: the point of beginning

(POB) is at geographic coordinates 250 (degrees), 19.45' (minutes) north latitude,

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800 (degrees), 12.0' (minutes) west longitude, said point being the northeast

boundary corner of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. From said POB run

thence southeasterly to geographic coordinates 250 (degrees), 16.2' (minutes)

north latitude 800 (degrees), 8.7' (minutes) west longitude, said point also

being on the 300 foot Isobath, thence run in a southwesterly direction along

said Isobath to geographic coordinates 240 (degrees), 58.3' (minutes) north

latitude, 800 (degrees), 19.8' (minutes) west longitude, thence leaving said

300 foot Isobath run northwesterly to geographic coordinates 250 (degrees),

2.2' (minutes) north longitude, 800 (degrees), 25.25' (minutes) west longitude,

said point being the southeast boundary corner of John Pennekamp Coral Reef

State Park, thence in a northeasterly direction along said easterly boundary of

said state park to the POB.

Environmental Setting

Biology and Geology

The South Florida coral reef tract is the most extensive reef system of

its type in the continental United States. The full reef complex or ecosystem

includes a large array of West Indian corals, algae, sponges, shrimp, crabs,

lobsters, mollusks, and a host of tropical fish species. The major plant and

animal life which includes the most important sediment-producing and sediment-

modifying organisms of the coral reefs is provided in Appendix B. The major

ecological zones are: (1) rubble, (2) millipora, (3) acropora, (4) open sand,

(5) grass beds (primarily thalassia), (6) alcyonarian, (7) reef flat, and

(8) back reef. Part of the appendicized information was developed for the

Biscayne Bay National Monument. However, the area off Key Largo is very

similar, therefore, the information should be applicable. The reef complex

of interdependent organisms and its geological characteristics are discussed

in Appendix C.

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Uses

The nominated area is currently subjected to a number of commercial and

recreational uses. Residents and tourists attracted to the area by the beauty

of the reef system participate in the recreational endeavors of boating,

sailing, snorkeling, swimming, diving, and sport fishing. A recent aerial

survey indicated 260 craft-in the area on a single day. The number of

vis~itors to the John Pennekamp State Park for last year was 343,484. Commer-

cial enterprises that supply services for these forms of recreation operate

adjacent to the area and within the proposed boundaries.

Other commercial enterprises also utilize the area. Lobster pot fishing

occurs. Commercial transportation occurs where water depths permit.

No petroleum resources have been located in the area and no evidence of

sand and gravel operations has been identified.

2.0 Proposed Management System

Administ rat ion

NOAA's responsibilities under this legislation require that the Office

of Coastal Zone Management review, comment and approve any activity that

takes place pursuant to the adopted rules and regulations.

Administration of the marine sanctuary will be by the State of Florida,

Department of Natural Resources, Division of Recreation and Parks, pursuant

to an agreement between the Governor of the State of Florida and the Admin-

istrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The State of Florida, Department of Natural Resources, Division of

Recreation and Parks, will be assisted in administration by an advisory

board consisting of representatives of the National Park Service; the

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U.S. Coast Guard; Department of Justice; the National Marine Fisheries

Service; and the State of Florida's Division of Marine Resources, Division

of Marine Law Enforcement, and Department of Environmental Regulation.

Proposed Rules and Regulations

Present and proposed future uses of the area include recreational boating

and fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving, commercial transport, fisheries

activities and scientific endeavors. Those activities allowed within the

marine sanctuary, however, will be subject to the following rules and reg-

ulations which are intended to provide for the maximum public use consistent

with the primary purpose.

The Key Largo Coral Reef Marine Sanctuary Proposed Rules and Regulations

Categories

1. Removal of or Destruction of Natural Features and Marine Life.

2. Dredging, Filling, Excavating and Building Activities.

3. Refuse and Polluting Substances.

4. Archaeological and Historical Resources.

5. Markers.

6. Fishing.

7. Skin Diving.

8. Operation of Watercraft.

9. Photography.

10. Advertising or Publicity.

11. Explosives and Dangerous Weapons.

12. Closing of the Marine Sanctuary.

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13. Report of Accidents

14. Disorderly Conduct

Proposed Rules and Regulations

Prohibited Activities (except by permit or for protection of life, property

or the environment. )

(1) Removal or Destruction of Natural Features and Marine Life

(a) No person shall destroy, injure, harmfully disturb or remove beach

sand, gravel or minerals, corals, sea feathers and fans, shells and shellfish

(except lobster, crawfish and stone crab), starfishes or other marine inver-

tebrates, seaweeds, grasses, or any soil, rock, artifact, stone or other

material. Nor shall a person have possession of any of the above listed items

in the boundaries of the marine sanctuary regardless of their place of extraction.

(b) No person shall cut, carve, injure, multilate, move or displace or

break off any bottom formation or growth.

coral, rock or other formation, whether temporary or permanent in character.

(2) Dredging, Filling, Excavating and Building

Activities

(a) No dredging, excavating or filling operations of any kind are to be

carried out in this marine sanctuary. No materials of any sort may be de-

posited in or on the waters thereof.

(h) No building or structure of any kind, whether permanent or tempor-

ary, may be constructed or built.

(c) No public service facility may be constructed or extended into, upon
or across this marine sanctuary, with the exception of marking and mooring

buoys or stations.

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(3) Refuse and Polluting Substances

(a) No person shall dump, deposit or discharge waste material into the

waters of this marine sanctuary. Specifically prohibited are wastes, acids,

oily liquid wastes or other deleterious chemicals, bottles, broken glass,

paper, boxes, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage, refuse or other debris or

substances which shall include the discharge of human sewage.

(4) Archaeological and Historical Resources

(a) No person shall willfully destroy, molest, deface, remove, displace

or tamper with any archaeological or historical resources, cargo pertaining

to wrecks within the marine sanctuary.

(5) Markers

(a) No person shall willfully mark, deface or damage in any way, or

displace, remove or tamper with any signs, notices, or placards, whether

temporary or permanent, or with any monuments, stakes, posts or other

boundary markers installed by the sanctuary manager or markers for the pur-

pose of lobster pot fishing.

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Prohibited Activities

(6) Fishing

Note: Sport and commercial fishing with hook and line for the purpose

of taking surface, midwater or bottom fishes (except tropical fishes) and

with nets for the taking of surface and midwater fishes, in accordance

with the fishing laws of the State of Florida and the rules of the Depart-

ment of Natural Resources is allowed within the marine sanctuary. The

taking of crawfish, spiny lobster and stone crab with traps for commercial

purposes, in accordance with the fishing laws of the State of Florida and

the ru les of the State of Florida Department of Natural Resources, is

allowed. All trap floats shall be marked with flags at all times. All

traps must be removed from the waters of the marine sanctuary during the

closed season.

(a) The use of poisons, electric charges and similar methods for the

taking or killing of fish is prohibited.

(b) Any device which is used in violation of the provisions of this

subsection is hereby declared a nuisance and may be seized and confiscated

to enforce the provisions of this section.

areas for research to assist in managing the sanctuary. Those areas desig-

nated by the sanctuary manager will be closed to fishing.

(7) Skin Diving

Note: Skin diving for -photography and for observation is allowed and

encouraged as a compatable and desired use.

(a) Skin divers will not handle corals, stand on coral formations,

collect or otherwise disturb corals within the sanctuary.

(b) See 8d below.

(d) See 8f below.

* ~Prohibited Activities

(8) Operation of Watercraft

(a) All watercraft shall be operated in accordance with Coast Guard

rules and regulations. The following additional constraints should also

be imposed within the boundaries of the sanctuary.

(b) No watercraft shall be operated in such a manner as to strike or

otherwise cause damage to the natural features of the marine sanctuary.

be endangered, no anchor shall be cast or dragged in such a way as to damage

any coral reef formations. Anchors shall be dropped on sand flats off

the reefs and placed so as not to drift into the coral formations.

(d) No watercraft shall be operated at greater than 4 miles per hour

in the vicinity of divers, sightseeing boats or fishermen, with the except-

ion of law enforcement officials while in the performance of their duties.

*(e) All watercraft from which diving operations are being conducted

shall fly in a conspicuous manner, the red and white "divers down" flag.

(f) No boat under power shall approach closer than 100 yards to a

boat displaying the diving flag except at a maximum speed of 4 miles per

hour. Divers shall stay within 100 yards of their diving flag.

(g) Boats anchored or proceeding at slow speeds for fishing or obser-

vation shall be approached or passed at such slow speed that the wake of the

approaching or passing boat does not d isturb the fishing or observation

boats.

(h) The operation of all watercraft within this marine sanctuary shall

be in accordance with such state and Federal laws as may be applicable to the

operation or navigation oIt watercraft on salt water areas.

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Prohibited Activities

(i) Watercraft must use mooring buoys, stations or anchoring areas

when such facilities and areas have been designated and are available.

(9) PhotographyI

Note: Photography, both surface and underwater, without the aid of

props or cast is encouraged.

(a) No person shall take still or motion pictures either commercial

or private, involving the use of special settings or structures, or the

performance of a cast of persons, either amateur or professional.

(10) Advertising or Publicity

(a) No person shall erect or cause to be erected, display, or cause

to be displayed w'ithin this marine sanctuary any signs, slogans or markers.

(11) Explosives and Dangerous Weapons

Note: Distress signalling devices are considered necessary for safe

boat operation.

(a) No person shall carry or possess, except while underway through

the marine sanctuary or for law enforcement purposes, firearms of any

description, air rifles, guns, bows and arrovs, slings, spear guns,

harpoons, or other kinds of weapons potentially harmful to fish or wildlife

or to the reef structure and dangerous to human safety. Use of such weapons

within the sanctuary is strictly prohibited.

(b) The use of weapons from beyond the boundaries of this sanctuary

and aimed or directed into this sanctuary is forbidden.

- (c) The use or possession of explosives within this marine sanctuary

is prohibited.

(d) Any weapon or device which is used in violation of the provisions

of this subsection is hereby declared a nuisance and may be seized and held

pending outcome of legal proceedings.

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Prohibited Activities

(12) Closing of the Marine Sanctuary

(a) This marine sanctuary Say be closed to public use in the event of

emergency conditions endangering life or property. Certain areas may be

closed in order to (1) permit recovery of the living resources from overuse,

or (2) provide for scientific research relating to protection and management.

(13) Report of Accidents

(a) Accidents involving personal injury or damage to property in excess

of $50 shall be reported as soon as possible by the person or persons in-

volved to the sanctuary manager.

(14) Disorderly Conduct

(a) Persons who render themselves obnoxious by disorderly conduct or

offensive behavior, or who are under the influence of intoxicating liquor,

narcotics or habit forming drugs, in addition to being subject to the penalty

provision for this section, may be suimmarily removed from this marine

sanctuary.

(b) Violation of any of the provisions of these regulations shall be

a civil penalty punishable as provided by the Marine Protection, Research

and Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.Code 14.33).

Permits

Permits may be issued to conduct educational endeavors, scientific

and industrial research, prohibited activities, and recreational activities.

Issuance of permits shall be for a limited term and a single activity

subject to renewal before expiration of the permit. Permits may be ex-

tended at the discretion of the marine sanctuary manager.

A permit application may be filed with the sanctuary manager and shall

indicate the purpose, the time period required, describing the proposed

activity including equipment, methods and schedule of events, the financial

capability of the applicant to perform the proposed activity, identifying

all participants and prior experience in carrying out an analagous en-

deavor and evidence that all papers required by the United States Coast

Guard or any other Federal agency have been obtained.

The applicant will be notified in 30 days whether the permit appli-

cation has been approved or not approved, and/or whether additional infor-

mation is required.

An applicant may appeal a denial to the Administrator of NOAA by letter,

stating his case and requesting a review of the action of the sanctuary

manager.

Permits may be cancelled by the sanctuary manager following notification

to the permit holder and after a hearing, if requested by the permit holder.

Certification

Once the marine sanctuary has been designated by the Administrator of

NOAA, no permit, license or other authorization issued by any other agency

shall be valid unless the Administrator of NOAA pursuant to the authority

delegated by the Secretary of Commerce, and upon recommendation of the

State of Florida, Division of Recreation and Parks as NOAA's administrative

officer, and the Advisory Committee, shall c ertify that the permitted

activity is consistent with the purposes of this title and can be carried

out within the regulations approved and adopted.

Research and Monitoring

Research and monitoring of the effects of particular uses of the coral

reef ecosystem will be incorporated into the management procedures as needed

to insure that the primary purpose for establishment of the sanctuary is

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carried out.

Surveillance of development activities along the coast of Key Largo

will be a function of the State of Florida, and the South Florida Regional

Planning Council, to insure that these activities do not adversely affect

water quality, subsequent health of the coral reef ecosystem, or violate

the sanctuary rules and regulations.

Enforcement

Implementation and administration of governing rules and regulations

for the marine sanctuary will be by the State of Florida, acting in its role

as NOAA's contract manager. Pursuant to 14 U.S.C. Sec. 89, the U.S. Coast

Guard shall have the responsibility for surveillance and enforcement of the

rules and regulations promulgated for the marine sanctuary.

Penalities

Any person subjecet to the jurisdiction of the United States who violates

any of the provisions of the governing regulations pursuant to Title III of

the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-532,

86 Stat. 1061) will be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $50,000

for each such violation to be assessed by the Administrator. Each day of

a continuing violation would constitute a separate violation. A vessel

used in the violation of a regulation promulgated herein would be liable

for any civil penalty assessed for such violation and could be proceeded

against in the appropriate District Court of the United States having

jurisdiction thereof.

The Relationship of the Proposed Action to Land Use Plans, Policies and

Controls for the Affected Area

This action conforms to the well-established policy of Congress to

preserve unique natural resources for their continued use, recreation

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and esthetic enjoyment. It also conforms to the evaluation of the general

area made in the State of Florida-Florida Keys Coastal Zone Management

Study: "The Florida Keys represent a most unique and valuable resource to

all of the people of Florida and to hundreds of thousands of tourists each

year,

The study also contains the following recommendation: "Implementation

of Title III of the Federal Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act

of 1972 to include John Pennekamp State Park as a 'marine sanctuary' in

cooperation with the Federal government. Boundaries of the preserve should

be enlarged to include the entire fringing reef system."

Probable Impact of the Proposed Action on the Environment

Designation of the area as a marine sanctuary and management according

to the proposed regulations should control and minimize many of the stresses

currently affecting this portion of the Florida reefs. Accordingly, the

health and well-being of the reefs and public enjoyment of same should be

enhanced.

Probable Adverse Environmental (User) Effects

Users of the area will be subject to regulation and some activity will

be precluded. The activities to be precluded are spear fishing, damage to

the coral and associated flora and fauna, salvage, and souvenir collecting.

If certain areas of coral come under stress owing to intensive use,

those areas will be temporarily closed to allow the coral ecosystem to re-

cove~r; this may cause minor inconvenience. When an area is closed, users

will be directed to other areas which should provide an equal experience

or level of enjoyment.

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The Relationship Between Local Short-Term Use of Man's Environment and the

Maintenance of Long-Term Productivity

No irretrievable commitment of resources is involved. The management

program proposed is such as to provide for continued, controlled use while

retaining open the options for future usuage.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

Four alternatives are considered: no sanctuary, sanctuary with different

boundaries, sanctuary with different regulations, and protection under another

authority.

NoSanctuary

Should this occur, the current stress conditions that prompted the

nomination will continue and the valuable coral resources degraded. In

addition, enforcement problems currently experienced in John Pennekamp Coral

Reef State Park will continue. This is due to the shallow depths at the

State Park Boundary which provide easy entry by anchoring just outside t he

boundary and diving into the Park. An outer boundary of 300 feet pre-

cludes this form of entry without sophisticated diving gear and expertise.

Larger Boundaries

The original nomination proposed larger boundaries. However, the area

is bounded on the north by both a ship channel and the Biscayne Bay National

Monument. Moreover, the principal reason is the ease of marking a boundary

continuous from the State Park and the converse if it is not.

Although arguments could be made for a larger area, it is not necessary

in this case for the option for another nomination exists if it becomes

evident a larger area is necessary to sustain the ecological balance.

Different Regulations

This would involve either permitting, in the judgment of the nominators,

activities that would stress the coral ecosystem or preclude uses not con-

sidered injurious. Although it is felt a proper balance is made in the

nomination, modifications may be appropriate. One option is to preclude all

bottom fishing. This would impact on those who fish for lobster, crawfish

and stone crab. As a minimum, these fishermen would need to travel a much

farther distance to set their traps. It is possible that total protection

of the species in part of their habitat could result in a greater total

abundance in the nonprotected areas. This option would preclude the possibil-

ity of damage to the corals by the pots.

similarly, spearfishing could be allowed. Doing so could increase the

possibility of injury to those who use the park and to the coral.

Net fishing could be prohibited, which would eliminate the possibility

of coral damage due to net contact with the reefs. However, the reefs do

considerable damage to the nets. The costly net repairs and lost fishing

time usually make these fishermen very cautious in deploying their nets too

close to the reef.

Other Authority

Currently no other authority for protecting 4Oliving marine resources

beyond the three-mile zone exists. The Department of the Interior can set

aside areas of the Continental Shelf under provisions of the Outer Conti-

nental Shelf Lands Act to conserve bur marine mineral resources, but not to

protect ecosystems.

Another option is a specific Act to establish the equivalent of the

marine sanctuary. This option would accomplish no more than what is proposed

under the existing authority of P.L. 92-532, Title III, Marine Sanctuaries.

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Coordination

The nomination was circulated to government agencies, industrial

organizations and conservation groups and individuals for their review and

comment. In addition, a press release was mailed to the newspapers, radio

stations and TV stations announcing the nomination. The press release

was followed by phone calls to the newspapers of the area most affected to

insure the nomination availability, and its content was made known to

the residents and users of the area.

80030' 90020 801

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-25020 SCURD 25020'-

FLORIDA
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AREA OF PROPOSED KEY LARGO MARINE SANCTUARY

-FIGURE 1.

APPENDIX A

PROCLAMATION NO. MM
Mar. 17, 1960, 25 F.R. 235
ESTABLISH31EN-T OF NEI LARGO CORAL REEF PRESERVE
WHEREAS there Is situated seaward relinquished to the State of Florida by
t'rom the coast of Key Largo, Florida. the United States through the Ninh-
an undersea coral reef formation which merged Lands Act. approved 'May ~
1a part of the only living coral reef for- 193 (67 Stat. 2 0; 43 U.S.C. 1301 et sscsi.l
mation along the coast of North Ameri- [section 1301 et seq. of Title 43. Public
ca; and Lands], and the remainder lies on tlul
WHERES ths uniue cral frma- sea bed of the outer Continental Sito-it
WHEREAS ~~~~~~othsunqecrloma obide the seaward bo~unduary Of tihe
tion sand Its associated marine life are of State of Florida and nppcrtains; to tin'
gftat scientific interest and value to stu- United States. as declared by the Outer
dlents of the sea;. and Continental Siself Lands Act, approvedt
IVMEREAi thin coral reef Is consid- August 7, 1953 (67 Stat. 402; 43 V.S*('
tied to be one Of the Most beautiful for- 1331 et seq.) [section 1331 et seq. of Title
nations of Its kind In the world. and 431; and
WHEREAS the reef Is being subjected WHEREAS tiue-Utnited States uand 1110
to commercial exploitation and In in State of Florida are desirouq of 11411r
danger of destruction; and ating for the purpose of pureserviisg 01i'
WHEREAS it is In the public interest scenic and scientific 'valkles of this Ri`-`
to preserve this formation of great scien. unimpaired for the benefit of future ire's
tMfe and esthetic importance for the ben. erations; sand
ofit and enjoyment of the people; and 'WHEREAS by the terms of the 011ter
WHEREAS a portion of this reef lies Continental Shelf Landsm Aet tile 1-nitrd
IInside the three-mile limit In thke area States has jurisdiction over the land. Of

Ch. la HISTORIC SITES, BUILDINGS, ETC. 16 � 461

the outer Continental Shelf anti has the westerly approximately 5,500 yards to
exclusive right to dispose of the naturnll Can Buoy "27"; thence soutlhwesterly
resources of the sea bed and subsoil approximately 5,000 yards to Flanshing
thereof; and Green Light "311111" in Hawk Channel
southeast of Point Elizabeth; thence
Continental Shelf Lands Act [section solu thwsterly apoxim 133" 0 yards
1341(a) of Title 43] authorizes the 1'resi- C. lnnelkeast nt Vie thnke
dent to withdraw from disposition any C testo oite t ec
of the unleased lands of the outer Conti- soutlwesthrly approximately 9D3" yards
to Flashing White Light "35" on .Mos-
quito Bank east of Point Charles:
WHEREAS section 5 of the Outer Con- thence southwesterly approximately 5,400
tinental Shelf Lands Act [section 1334 of yards to Black Day Beacon "37" (ap-
Title 43] authorizes the Secretary of the proximate Latitude 25' 0T- 2b N., Longi-
Interior to prescribe rules and regula. tude 80' 25' 36" W.), southeast of Rodrl-
tions for the conservation of the natural guez Key; thence southeasterly approxi-
resources of the outer Continental Shelf mately 7,100 yards (pass 600 yards
and to cooperate with the conservation southwest of Flashing Light "2" at %Mo-
agencies of adjacent States in the en- lasses Reef) to the 60-foot depth curve
forcement of conservation laws, rules. (10-fathom line) 800 yards due south of
and regulations: said light at Molasses Reet (approximate
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DWIGHT D. Latitude 25' 00 18" N., LongitudeqO 22'
EISENHOWER, President of tile United 30" V.); thence northeasterly with the
States of America. acting under and by 60-foot depth curve and 10-fatham line
Staue of thei authit v Ind e (passing easterly of French' Reef, Dixie
virtue of the authority vested in me by Shoal The Elow adr Ree
the Constitution and the statutes of the Shoat, The Elyow e and Cartoint Reef)
United States, particularly section 12(a)
of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act beginning
[section 1341(a) of Title 43], do proclaim I call upon all persons to join in the
that, subject to valid existing rights, the effort to protect and preserve this natu-
following-described area is designated as ral wonder for the benefit of future gen-
the Key Largo Coral Reef Preserve, and erations.
so much thereof as lies on the outer
Continental Shelf is withdrawn from dis. The Secretary of the Interior Is re.
o sitionf: quested to prescribe rules and regula-
tions governing the protection and con.
That portion of the outer Continental servation of the coral and other mineral
Shelf situated seaward of a line three resources in this area and to cooperate
geographic miles from Key Largo, Mon- with the State of Florida and its conser-
roe County, Florida, lying and being vation agencies In the preservation of
within the following described area: the reef.
BEGINNING at a point on the 60-foot IN WITNESS WHEREOF. I have
depth curve (10-fathom line) as delineat- hereunto set my hand and caused the
ed on Coast and Geodetic Survey Chart Seal of the United States of America to
1249 (approximate Latitude 25' 17' 36" N., be affixed.
Longitude 80' 10' 00" W.), 200 yards south-
east of Flashing White Light-Whistle DONE at the City of Washington this
Buoy "2"; thence northwesterly approx- fifteenth day of March in the year of
imately 7,000 yards through Whistle our Lord nineteen hundred and
Buoy "2" to Can Buoy "21" (approxl- sixty and of the Independence
mate Latitude 25� 20' 06" N., Longitude [seall of the United States of Ameri-
80' 12' 36" W.) southeast of Old Rhodes ca the one hundred and eighty-
Key; thence southwesterly about 6.900 fourth.
yards to Can Buoy "25"; thence south- DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

Library Refereneea

Armed Services :54. CJ.S. Army and Navy ! 107.
Woods and Forests 4:8. CJ.S. Woods and Forests iI 11, 12

Appendix B

5
A LIST OF FISHES OF ALLIGATOR REEF, FLORIDA
WITH COMMENTS ON
THE NATURE OF THE FLORIDA REEF FISH FAUNA1

Waiter A. Starck,II
Institute of Marlne Science, University of Miami

Abstract

The fish fauna of Alligator Reef, Florida Is enumerated and
the zoogeographic nature of the Florida reef fish fauna discussed.
A total of 517 species are recorded, of which 3389 are coral reef
forms. Forty-five species are previously unknown from Florida
and an additional eight are undescribed. The Alligator Reef fish
fauna is now the richest known of any single location In the new
world. Only seven of the reef species are not recorded from else-
where In the West Indian region outside Florida and this number Is
expected to be further reduced with additional collecting In other
areas. The Florida reef fish fauna is believed to be composed of
post-glacial Immigrants from the West Indies and Yucatan.

INTRODUCTION

Coral reefs, though harboring what Is probably the richest and certainly
one of the oldest and most stable animal communities on earth, have been
relatively little studied. The tremendous potential for biological research
offered by coral reefs has been offset by their remoteness from most centers
of higher learning and by their being underwater. In recent years development
of marine research Institutions In tropical regions, advances in various fields
of technology, and Increased availability of funds for marine biological research
have resulted in a considerable Increase In work on coral reefs.
The West Indian coral reef fauna In general, and that of Florida reefs In
particular, are better studied than reef faunas elsewhere In the world and of
reef animals fishes are among the best known. In the present list the presence
of 45 species of reef fishes previously unrecorded from Florida or other U.S.
waters and at least eight undescribed species Is Indicative of the Inadequate
state of our knowledge of even the best known reef organisms In the most
thoroughly studied region. An additlonol Indication of the status of our Inform-
ation Is the fact that 36.species In the list have been described since 1955.
Even among described species many systematic problems remain and
beyond the systematic level very little information Is In print regarding the
biology of most reef fishes. To an Important extent In coral reef studies we
are still dealing with an unknown fauna. This list constitutes what is apparent-
ly the first reasonably definitive enumeration of a coral reef fish fauna.
The present paper Is the second of a series dealing witn the structure of
the fish fauna of Alligator Reef (the first Is Starck and Davis, 1967). Future
publications on color patterns, size and form, habitats and species associ-
ations, general behavior, and other aspects of reef fish biology are In preper-
atlon.

!Contributlon Noa90 from the Institute of Marine Science, University of
Miami

STUDY AREA

Alligator Reef Is a shallow knoll on the Florida reef chain located about 3.5
nautical miles offshore of the town of Islamorada Florida, In the Florida Keys.
The area encompassed by the present checklist (U.S.C. &G. 1250) extends
from the ocean shores of Upper and Lower Matecumbe Keys to the 100 fathom
curve about nine nautical miles beyond the reef. Collections as far as the
next reefs to the northeast and southwest of Alligator Reef have been Included.
These adjacent reefs are Crocker Reef, six nautical miles northeast and
Tennessee Reef, 10 miles southeast of Alligator Reef.
Shore habitats In the study area consist mainly of beaches of mixed coral
and shell rubble, calcareous sand, and finer material. The beach slope Is
gentle so that a distance of about one nautical mile from shore Is reached
before a depth of six meters Is encountered. A few shore areas consist of
eroded coral rock and In one location, Indian Key, the rocky shore Is undercut
with a water depth of one meter at shore.
The lagoon or Hawk Channel extends for a distance of about 2.5 nautical
miles from shore and the bottom consists of large beds of Thalassla alternating
with areas of flat rocky bottom dominated by alcyonarlans, sponges, and
Sargassum. Large groups of patch reefs occur In several locations In the
lagoon and Isolated coral heads in many areas.
The sandy back-reef begins about one mile Inside the outer-reef tract.
The substrate consists largely of sandy bottom mixed with increasing amounts
of rubble toward the reef and with finer sediments nearer the lagoon. Many
Isolated patches of Thalassla dot the back-reef and a number of rocky patches
covered with alcyonarlans and sponges are also found.
The reef-top consists largely of eroded coral rock and rubble Interspersed
with small patches of sand. An eroded rocky ledge up to 2.5 meters high
extends for several hundred meters along the reef-top at Alligator Reef and Is
an Important concentration point for many species of fishes. Numerous corals
and alcyonarlans occur In the rocky areas but coral growth on the reef-top at
Alligator Reef is not as luxuriant as at certain other reefs on either side of It
along the Florida reef tract. Coral development, however, has little direct
effect on the fish fauna as coral Is Important chiefly as shelter. Because of
the shelter afforded by the rocky ledge and the presence of extensive and
diverse back-reef forage areas Alligator Reef actually has a greater concen-
tration of reef fishes than many other locations with more luxuriant coral
growth. Depths on the reef-top at Alligator Reef vary from 1.5 to six meters
with four to five meters over the ledge.
Seaward of the reef-top the bottom slopes over a distance of 150 to 200
meters to a depth of 22 to 24 meters and then drops more or less abruptly to a
depth of 29 meters (16 fathoms). The deep-reef makes up the outer edge of
this zone. It consists of heavily eroded coral rock overgrown by profuse
growths of live corals, alcyonarlans, and sponges. The outer face Is steep
'':!s off onto silty sand and sandy rubble bottom at a depth of 28 to 29
mieters. The deep-reef Is separated from the reef-top In most areas by a band
of sand 100 meters or more wide In depths of 10 to 20 meters.
Beyond the deep-reef the bottom shelves gently so that It Is necessary to go
about one mile beyond the outer edge of the deep-reef before a depth of 45
meters Is reached and nine miles before a depth of 180 meters (100 fathoms) Is
reached. The bottom over most of this area consists of various mixtures of
calcareous silt, sand, and rubble.

7
Small rocky outcrops at a depth of 45 meters occur In one location and are
a focal point for concentrations of a number of deep water reef species.
Other areas of low relief are found In deeper water and an extensive zone of
very rugged relief occupies the outer edge of the study area In depths of 145
to 180 meters.
For the purposes of the present paper the reef community Is defined as
that occupying the reef-top Itself and all of the reef associated habitats from
the shoreward edge of the lagoon to a depth of 45 meters, about one mile
beyond the outer edge of the deep-reef.

WORK AT ALLIGATOR REEF

The only reference to biological work at Alligator Reef prior to the present
program Is a paper by Breder (1927). His report on the fishes collected by
the first oceanographic expedition of the "Pawnee" In 1925 Includes about 15
species of reef fishes collected at Alligator Reef.
The present work at Alligator Reef was begun by the author In 1958 and
has continued for varying periods during each year of the subsequent nine
years. Use of rotenone-based fish toxicants and SCUBA equipment has been
the single most productive collecting technique. Well over 200 such collect-
ions have been made In all major habitats from shore to 45 meters. Hundreds
of additional collections hove also been made by more selective methods.
Spears, traps, handnets, costnets, trawls, angling, and other techniques nave
been used extensively. In depths greater than 45 meters bottom collections
have been made by trawl and hook and line only, and even these techniques
have not been used exhaustively though perhaps 50 days of hook and line fishirng
at these depths have been carried out.
In addition to collecting, several hundred days have been spent in observing
with skin and SCUBA diving equipment. Over 100 night diving trips have also
been made for observations and limited collecting.

PUBLICATIONS

Virtually all fishes collected at Alligator Reef have been deposited In the
Ichthyological museum of the Institute of Marine Science of the University of
Miami. This material has been used by a number of Investigators and a total
of 34 publications and three studies In press now deal with fishes from Alligaot-
or Reef.
Anderson, Gehrlnger, and Berry (1966), Bohlke (1967a, 1967b), Bhlke
and Robins (1960a, 1960b, 1962), B6hlke and Springer (1961), Bohike and
Thomas (1961), Courtency (1961, 1967), Davis (1966), Eschmeyer (1965),
Gilbert (1967), Hubbs (1963), Randall (1963b, 1965a, 1966), Randall and
BShlke (1965), Robins and Starck (1961), Robins and Tcbb (1965), Springer
(1962), and Starck and Courtenay (1962), treat material from Alligator Reef
In systematic studies. These papers Include 12 new Florida records and
descriptions of ten new species from Alligator Reef.
Clardelll (In press), Feddern (1963, 1965, In press), Gould (1965),
McKenny (1959), Randaoll and Randall (1960), Randall (1962), Schroeder and
Starck (1964), Starck (1960), Starck and Schroeder (1965), Starck (in press),
Starck and Davis (1967), and Myrberg, Brohy, and Emery (1967) deal with
biological aspects of fishes from Alligator Reef and Include one new record
of.occurrence for Florida.

8
Numerous black and white and color photographs of reef fishes and reef
habitats at Alligator Reef may also be found In Starck and Brundza (1966).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

From 1958 to 1960 collections at Alligator Reef were made by the author
In co-operation with a study of the Inshore fish fauna of the Florida Keys
headed by C. Richard Robins under National Science Foundation grants-In-aid
3881 and 9695. Field work In the summer of 1964 was connected with Investi-
gotions of the feeding habits and related morphology of selected reef fishes
supported by NSF-GB-1456 of which Dr. Robins was principal Investigator.
Since June 1965 work at Alligator Reef has been supported by NSF-GB-3628
of which the author Is principal Investigator.
The National Geographic Society has also contributed considerable support
to various facets of the work since 1962.
Over the years, many Individuals have participated In field work at Alligator
Reef. Henry A. Feddern, Richard H. Chesher, Alan R. Emery and William
P. Davis have been especially helpful and are, themselves, carrying out
studies on the biology of various reef organisms. Robert E. Schroeder has
also assisted In field operations at various times.
John E. Randall was involved In early collecting efforts and has been most
co-operative In subsequent years with his ideas, observations, and data on
reef fish biology.
C. Richard Robins has made available all possible facilities of the
Ichthyological museum of the Institute of Marine Science and has given Invaluable
old In taxonomic problems concerning reef fishes. He has also critically
reviewed this manuscript.
James E. B8hlke furnished a complete list of the known fish fauna of the
Bahama Islands and solved several perplexing taxonomlc problems.
Jo D. Starck, the author's wife, assisted In all phases of the work from
field operations and processing of collections and data to completion of the
manuscript.

DISCUSSION

Alligator Reef now has what Is probably the most thoroughly known fish
fauna of any single coral reef. The 517 species included In the present list
also considerably exceeds the 440 odd fishes recorded by Langley and Hllde-
brand (1941) from the Tortugas; previously the richest known shore fish
fauna of any single locality In the New World. This fact Is Indicative only of
the richness of coral reef faunas In general rather than that of Alligator Reef
In particular. With thorough collecting many other reefs In the West Indian
Region will undoubtedly be found to have equal or even greater fish faunas.
Of the 517 species recorded some 389 are actually members of the reef
community and are normally found In the area from the shore to a depth of 45
meters. The remaining species are either offshore pelagic forms, demersal
species from deeper water, or stragglers from adjacent Inshore areas.
In the checklist reef species have been divided Into two groups to give
some Idea of the composition of the reef community. Primary reef species
(Indicated In the list by an asterisk) are those characteristically associated
with coral reefs (253 species here). Secondary reef species ore forms
(Indicated by a+) which, though normal residents of Alligator Reef and other
reefs, are equally or even more characteristic of areas not associated with

reefs (135 species here). The latter Includes a number of occupants of sandy
bottom and grass habitats as well as wide ranging species such as sharks.
In recent years a considerable number of publications have expanded our
knowledge of West Indiaon reef fishes. Systematic notes, descriptions of new
species, and generic and faml I lal revisions have clarified many problems.
Thirty-six of the reef species In the present list have been described In the
post 11 years (since 1955) and all but one of the eight known new species
Included here are now In the process of being described by various workers.
To assist the non-systematist amid this welter of new names and changes in
old ones common names follow the scientific ones. When common names were
unavailable they were coined; otherwise the common names of Bailey et al.
(1960) were generally followed. In some cases the names recommended by
Bailey et al.were apparently taken from those listed by earlier scientific
workers and are not coincident with names standardly used by aquarists,
skindivers, and fishermen. In these cases the commonly used name is follow-
ed rather than the recommended one. In a few additional cases where des-
criptive names suggested by Bailey et al.were misleading for the live fish a
new name Is given. Wherever such changes have been made the reasons are
given.
In addition to Bailey et al.who Ilsted fishes of the United States and Canada
Briggs (1958) also dealt comprehensively with Florida fish-es in his list of
Florida fishes. Both papers, though Important and useful works, contribu:-
to zoogeographic confusion by Including species which were not previously
recorded from Florida Unfortunately these species were not differentlatec
from ones based on published record.
In a number of cases In Briggs' work and In a lesser number in Bailey .t
al., species were anticipated on the basis of a pattern of known d.istributlon
whichwuld probably Include Florida though no specimens had been collected
there. Some of these speculations have been vindicated by subsequent collect-
ions. Others have not.
Both publications also included species which had been collected but not
recorded though no Indication of this status Is given. In the case of Bailey et
al.a number of these were based on material collected at Alligator Reef by the
author and curated by Dr. C. Richard Robins, a co-author of that work.
Therefore, 16 of the species from the present list are Included by Bailey et al.
but are not previously recorded .
Whenever possible species binomens used are those recommended by recent
studies. For convenience the familial order used by Bailey et al.has been
followed and species within a family listed alphabetically. Non-reef species
are designated as offshore for those pelagic species which occur from the
reef-top seaward and the demersal species which live in depths greater thaor,
45 meters. Inshore species are those which normally live in Florida Bay and
stray Into the reef area (for a more detailed list of Florida Bay fishes see
Tabb and Manning, 1961).
To indicate the abundance of each species five qualitative categories are
used. Rare species are those of which three of fewer specimens have-been
seen or collected among a number of collections in their habitat. Occasional
ones are species collected or observed at irregular Intervals. Species list-
ed as frequent have been seen or collected on numerous occasions or are
taken In a large percentage of collections from their habitat. Common species
are ones that may befound during virtually every dive'or collection In the
proper area. Abundant Indicates a common species present In large number3.
Though the South Florida area Is often thought of as subtropical It Is

10
Important to emphasize that the marine fauna and flora of the Florida Keys Is
wholly tropical In nature as pointed out by Stephenson and Stephenson (1958:
393). While the Florida Keys do lie Just outside of the Tropic of Cancer the
Florida Current displaces tropical marine conditions northward. On rare
occasions exceptionally cold weather may drop.water temperatures near shore
to the lower lethal limit for some organisms but the reef area from the lagoon
seaward Is unaffected by these short cold spells. Faunal differences between
the Florida reefs and Bahamian ones, for example, are evidently connected
with other factors than temperature. The unusually heavily sedimented nature
(for a coral reef) of much of the sea floor in the Keys Is perhaps the single
most Important factor.
Although ecological conditions at All gator Reef restrict certain species
many others are favored. Especially abundant and noticeable are the grunts
(Pomadasyldae), snappers (Lutjonldae), and sea basses (Serranidae), and the
general underwater appearance of the reef fish population density Is not equal-
ed on most other West Indian reefs.
The fishes of Alligator Reef are typical of West Indian reefs In general and
constitute a fauna that can hardly be considered Impoverished In reef forms.
With adequate collecting many of the faunal differences between various locat-
ions In this faunal region are disappearing and those that remain are begin-
ning to fit a pattern.
Briggs (1958: 235) listed as Florida endemics 26 nominal species that are
Included in or are synonyms of-reef species In the present list. At the present
time only one of these (Hypoplectrus gemma)ls still known only from Florida.
To this may be added two subsequently described species (Lythrypnus phorellus
and Ophidlan selenops), one undescribed species (Chrom:s sp.),a species
previously recorded erroneously from the West Indies E:ac oceanops),
and two species which range outside Florida along the continental coast
(Llopropoma. eukrlines and Equetus umbrosus),for a total of seven out of 389
reef Inhabitants that are not recorded elsewhere In the West Indies. With
further collecting It Is probably that several of these seven will also be found
outside Florida. Except for Ophidion all other Western Atlantic species of the
genera Involved are West Indian reef.forms and even Oph'dion has several West
Indian reef representatives.
Of the seven species found, so far, only in U.S. wat-.rs, two are small
gables, two are small serranids, one a dwarf cusk eel, -nd one a pomacentrid.
The tendency for zoogeographic differentiation within th. region to be restrict-
ed to small species with limited ability to travel and littl ! or no pelagic larval
period Is apparent. Rosenblatt (1963: 176) has pointed c it these and addition-
al factors which have contributed to rapid evolution In s...ch fishes. It is also
evident that most species of even these groups are not r: strlcted to Florida
and the barrier has been effective for only a relatively -nited number of forms.
Differences In faunal composition between reefs In tl : West Indies can
therefore be r'n-ded primarily as ecological or quanth :tive rather than zoo-
,...,ltative. With a much larger species c :mplement available
. , t I d nan actually lives there the faunal compositlor. -f a given reef Is a
function of what can live there rather than what can get :ere. Though two
reefs may reveal similar species lists with extensive cc acting, the populations
of each species are often quite dissimilar depending upco differences In
geography, hydrography, and biology of the reefs.
Comparison of the fish fauna of Alligator Reef with c-nler areas on an eqult-
able basis Is difficult because of lack of adequate collec:ions elsewhere.
Langley and Hildebrand (1941) report a total of 442 nom; lal species from the

11
Tortugas of which about 300 may be considered reef Inhabitants. The species
taken at Alligator but not at Tortugas largely reflect differences In techniques
used. The groups showing the greatest difference are the burrowing eels and
cusk eels, the small cryptic gobles, and the deeper water labrids.
In view of the nature of the differences In recorded species and col lecting
techniques no significant faunal differentiation between the Tortugas and
Alligator Reef can be postulated and It Is probable none exists.
Over recent years extensive collecting with rotenone-based lchthyocides
and SCUBA gear has greatly expanded our knowledge of the fishes of the
Bahama Islands. The greatest part of recent Ichthyological work In the
Bahamas has been carried out by James E. B3hike and Charles C. G. Chaplin
of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Dr. Bdhlke kindly furnishj-
ed the author with a list of fishes known from the Bahamas and It Is on this
basis that the following conparlsons are made. In this case collecting tech-
niques are comparable between the two areas and over 50 of the Bahamian
collections were made by the author using Identical techniques to the ones
used at Alligator Reef. However, It must still be considered that we are com-
paring collections made In the many reef situations of a large group of Islands
with those made on one reef.
Dr. Bdhlke's list of Bahamian fishes Includes 496 species In total, of which
about 450 may be found on coral reefs. Total fauna Is, therefore, slightly less
than that of Alligator Reef but the reef dwelling component Is fifteen percent
greater.
Only one family Involved Is not common to both areas. The serranoid
family Grammidae Is not represented at Alligator Reef and Is unrecorded from
Florida. However,.one species, Gramma loreto, Is reportedly taken
occasionally by aquarium fish collectors In the region from Fort Lauderdale
to Palm Beach Florida. In that area the Florida current is closer to shore
than at any other point along the Florida coast. This feature coupled with the
absence of extensive adjacent estuarlne or bay areas permits clear oceanic
water to prevail over the outer reef areas there. As a result a number of
other species of fishes and Invertebrates characteristic of the West Indies but
rare or absent elsewhere In Florida are found there. Among fishes these in-
clude, In addition to Gramma loreto, the pygmy angelfish (Centropyge argi)
and the longsnout butterflyfish (Prognathodes aculeatus). This situation further
Illustrates that local conditions and not zoogeographic barriers are the caus-
Itive agents behind much of the apparent faunal differentiation between sepa-
rate reef areas In the West Indian region.
On the generic level 35 genera of reef fishes from the Bahamas hove not been
found at Alligator Reef but 18 of these have been token elsewhere In Florida.
Sixteen genera of reef fishes taken at Alligator Reef are unknown In the
Bahamas but all have been token elsewhere In the West Indian region.
Reef species occurring In the Bahamas but not collected at Alligator Reef
total 126 but 46 of these have been taken elsewhere in Florida. Seventy-two
reef species from Alligator Reef are unknown for the Bahamas; however, all
but seven of these (see above) have been taken elsewhere In the West Indies.
Four of these seven are normally found In depths greater than 15 meters at
which depths relatively few rotenone collections, or none at all, have been
made over most of the West Indian Region.
The 82 Bahamian reef species not known from Florida are scattered among
27 families but the greatest number of these (51%) occur In four families.
These families, the: Clinldae (Including the Tripteryglldae and Chaenopsldae),
Goblidae, Apogonldae, and Goblesocldae are all composed of small species

12
with short or non-existent pelagic larval periods and which as adults do not
range widely.
The nature of the fish fauna of Alligator Reef and of the Florida reefs In
general can be summarized as follows:
During the last glacial period tropical marine species were restricted to
a much narrower latitudinal area and the Florida shore fauna was predominant-
ly temperate In nature (Walters and Robins, 1961: 16). The present reef fish
fauna consists of relatively recent Immigrants that have crossed the Florida
Current from the West Indies or drifted with It from the Yucatan peninsula.
This barrier has apparently been effective only for forms with very limited
swimming powers as adults and with reduced or absent planktonic larval peri-
ods. This category Includes the speclose gables and blennles. Certain other
forms while able to cross the Straits have been unable to develop normal pop-
ulations due to local conditions.
Two factors are readily apparent which might adversely affect some West
Indian reef species In Florida. One is an unusually high degree of siltation
for a coral reef area and the other Is a surprisingly dense population of many
species on the Florido reefs perhaps creating an unfavorable competitive sit-
uotlon for some other species.
Among the species which occur at Alligator Reef but for which local con-
ditions are apparently unfavorable are:
Myripristls jacobus, Plectrypops retrosplnis, Cepholopholls fulva,
Liopropoma mowbrayl, Lioprooona rubre, Mycteroperca tlgrls, Inermia vittota,
Lutjanus mahogonl, Centropygoa argi, Prognathodes aculeatus, Balistes
vetula, and Cantherhines macrocerus.
In contrast to the faunal limitations Imposed by the barrier of the Florida
Current and by local conditions, other factors have operated to permit a sur-
prlsingly rich reef fish fauna In Florida. The Florida Current maintains
favorable temperatures over the reefs and brings an abundant supply of plank-
tonic food. Adjacent and extensive Inshore regions of high productivity furnish
excellent forage areas for adults of a number of species and nursery grounds
for juveniles of many. Finally a wide range of reef and reef-associated
habitats are found.
The net results of these factors are that the fish fauna consists of West
Indian species with the exception of seven out of nearly 400 reef species and
some of these seven will probably also be found in the West Indies with further
collecting. Results of the favorable factors are such that not only are a
large number of species found In a single area but populations of many are
unusually dense.
Outside the Western Atlantic the best known reef fish fauna Is that of
Hawaii. In comparison, however, It must be remembered that In Hawall we
are considering the fauna of an archipelago 1,500 miles long and not that of
a single reef. Gosline and Brock (1960) report from Hawaii a total of 448 In-
shore species from depths less than 100 fathoms. Of these just under 400
species can be considered reef dwellers. The very similar number of reef
species between Alligator Reef and the entire Hawaiian chain including
Johnston Island Is indicative of the surprising richness of the Florida reef
fauna.
Other than at Hawaii, which is Impoverished In comparison, the rich Indo-
Pacific fauna Is very poorly studied. Two areas have received more recent
and extensive treatment than the rest. Schultz et al. (1951, 1960, and 1966)
report about 625 reef species from the Marshall and Marianas Islands. The
limited nature of the collections on which their work was based Indicate an

13
actual fauna of at least 800 reef dwelling fishes.
Smith and Smith (1963) report approximately 740 reef species from the
Seychelles. From personal observation and collecting there I would feel safe
In estimating a total reef fish fauna of over 900 species.
While these figures are totals for relatively large Island groups It appears
probably that the fauna of tropical Indo-Pacific reefs Is approximately twice
as speclose as that of West Indian reefs.
In comparing the general systematic composition of the Alligator Reef fauna
or the West Indian fauna In general with that of the tropical Indo-Pacific area
the most noticeable differences are the greater Importance of the Cllnldae and
Pomadasyldoe in the West Indian Region and the increased significance of the
Blennlldae and P.canthurldae in the Indo-Pacific. A few specialized Indo-West
Pacific families are not represented at all in the West Indian Region.
A significant portion of the Cllnidae, the Chaenopsldae, has been recog-
nised as a separate family (Stephens, 1963) and together with the Dactyloscop-
idae are the only families of West Indian reef fishes which are known only from
the New World. The remaining families are all represented In the Indo-Pacific.
The Blennildae of the Indo-Pacific fill, to some extent, niches occupied by
the Cllnidae of the West Indian Region.
The Pomadasyldae are represented In the Indo-Pacific by the closely related
Gaterlnildae which are also ecologically similar and the two groups probably do
not rate familial separation.
The wide range of niches defined by the many species of Indo-Paclflc
Acanthurlds are apparently exploited only by the four Western Atlantic species
of Acanthurus.
Other characteristic and speclose reef fish families of the Indo-Pacific such
as the Muraenldae, Ophicthidae, Holocentrldae, Serranldae, Lutjanidae,
Apogonidae, Carang dae, Mul I dae, Chaetodontldae, Pomacentridae, Labrldae,
Scarldae, Goblidae, Scorpaenidae, Blennllidoe, BalIstidae, Ostracldae .and
Dlodontidae are all well represented at Alligator Reef. With the exception of
the Mullldae (two species) and the Ostraclldae (four species) all these families
have five or more species at Alligator Reef.

SUMMARY

The fish fauna of Alligator Reef Is fully tropical West Indian In nature Cnd
surprisingly rich. The known fauna from this Reef .:nd Immediate environs now
Includes a greater number of species than has been :previously recorded from
any one location In the New World. The reef fish fa:.no probably consists of
post-glacial Immigrants and accordingly the most nc- iceable differentiation
from the fauna of the West Indian Islands Includes th * absence of certain small-
er demersal species with limited swimming power ao adults and little or no
pelagic larval period.
In comparison with the tropical Indo-Pacif c ree- fish fauna that of Alligator
Reef Is similar In composition on the familial and gE -eric level. The total
number of species Involved Is very close to that of :3 Hawaiian reef fish
fauna but only about one-half that of the Marshall aor Marlonas Islands or the
Seychel les.

A LIST OF FISHES OF ALLIGATOR RE. FLORIDA

The reef habitat, primary and secondary reef spr.cles, and categories of
abundance have been defined above. Comments on cilentific and common names
used are also made above.

14
Where species binomens differ from those previously used reasons are given
�as they are when common names differ from those suggested by Bailey et al.
(1960). While stability In common names is certainly desirable the author Is of
the opinion that for Ichthyologists to Insist upon a common name In the face of
uniform popular usage of another equally appropriate name contributes nothing
to nomenclatural stability. In other cases a suggested common name may be
misleading and require change. One example Is the previously recommended
whitellne goby which In life has a bright yellow line. Persons who use common
names will probably never see a faded preserved specimen with a white line.
Unfortunately, therefore, It appears that recommended common names like
scientific ones may sometimes have to be changed. Such name changes, If
reasonable and conservative In nature, should In the long run contribute to
stability rather than detract from It.
Species of which specimens from Alligator Reef are In the Ichthyological
museum of the Institute of Marine Science are Identified by the letters UMML.
The four species based on sight records only are so stated.
All new records of occurrence for Florida are identifled as such and In a
few cases where taxonomic status Is uncertain this Is also noted.

LAMNIDAE - MACKEREL SHARKS
Isurus oxyrlnchus Raflnesque, MAKO, rare, offshore, one specimen examined
but not preserved.
ORECTOLOBIDAE - NURSE SHARKS
Glinglymostora clrratum (Bonnaterre), NURSE SHARK, frequent, UMML.
RHINCODONTIDAE - WHALE SHARKS
Rhincodon typus Smith, WHALE SHARK, rare, one specimen seen by the author
near Duck Key about 17 miles west of Alligator Reef.
CARCHARHINIDAE - REQUIEM SHARKS
Carcharhinus falclformis (Valenciennes), SILKY SHARK, common, offshore.
+Carcharhinus leucas (Valenciennes), BULL SHARK, frequent to common.
Carcharhinus I lmbatus (Valenciennes), BLACKTIP SHARK, occasional, Inshore.
Carcharhinus obscurus (Lesueur), DUSKY SHARK, frequent, offshore.
+Galeocerdo cuvler (Peron and Lesueur), TIGER SHARK, occasional tofrequent.
+Negaprlon brevlrostris (Poey), LEMON SHARK, common to abundant Inshore,
occasional reef, UMML.
Prlonace glauca (Llnnaeus), BLUE SHARK, rare, one specimen caught around
1940 about 10 miles SW of Alligator Reef, Identified by the late Albert
Pflueger, Miami taxidermist.
SPHYRNIDAE - HAMMERHEAD SHARKS
+Sphyrna mokorron (R?3ppell), GREAT HAMMERHEAD, occasional to frequent.
+Sphyrna tiburo (Linnaeus), BONNETHEAD, occasional to frequent.
Sphyrna zygaena (Linnoeus), SMOOTH HAMMERHEAD, occasional, offshore,
UMML.
PRISTIDAE - SAWFISHES
Prlstis pectinotus Latham, SMALLTOOTH SAWFISH, occasional, Inshore,
UMML.
RHINOBATIDAE - GUITARFISHES
Rhinobatos lentiginosus (Garman), ATLANTIC GUITARFISH, rare, Inshore.

15
TORPEDINIDAE - ELECTRIC RAYS
+Narcine brosl:lensls (Olfers), LESSER ELECTRIC RAY, frequent, UNMML.
RAJIDAE - SKATES
RoaJ garmanI Whitley, ROSETTE SKATE, common, offshore, UMML.
DASYATIDAE - STINGRAYS
+Dasyatis americana Hildebrand and Schroeder., SOUTHERN STINGRAY,
frequent reef, common Inshore.
+Urolophus amaolcensis (Cuvler), YELLOW STINGRAY, common, UMML.
MYLIOBATIDAE - EAGLE RAYS
+Aetobatus narinarl (Euphrasen), SPOTTED EAGLE RAY, frequent.
MOBULIDAE - MANTAS
Manta birostrls (Walbaum), ATLANTIC MANTA, occasional, offshore.
ELOPIDAE - TARPONS
Elops saurus Llnnaeus, LADYFISH, frequent, Inshore.
Megolops atlantlco Valenciennes, TARPON, common, Inshore, UIIMML.
ALBULIDAE - BONEFISHES
Albula vulpes (Linnaeus), BONEFISH, common, inshore.
CLUPEIDAE - HERRINGS
+Harenguloa humeralls Cuvler, REDEAR SARDINE, common, UMML.
+Harengula pensacolae Goode ad Bean, SCALED SARDINE, common, UMML.
+Jenkinsla lamprotoenla (Gosse), DWARF HERRING, common, UMML.
*Jenkinslo malua Whitehead, LITTLE-EYE DWARF HERRING, common, UMML.
First record for Florida.
William N. Eschmeyer who is presently studying the species of Jenkinslo
and who Identifled the material from Alligator Reef Informed the author
that several species may be Involved In what Is now known as Jenklnsla
mal]u. The Identification of Alligator Reef material under this name is,
therefore, provisional.
+Jenklnsla stollfera Jordan and Gilbert, NARROWSTRIPE DWARF HERRING,
frequent, UMML.
Opisthonema ogIlnum (Lesueur), THREAD HERRING, frequent, Inshore.
+Sardlnella anchovia (Valenciennes), SPANISH SARDINE, frequent, UMML.
Hildebrand (1963) recognizes three species of Sordinello from the Western
Atlantic; pinnulo known only from Bermuda, anchovla rangl ng from Woods
Hole to Florida and probably to Brazil, and braslliensls which occurs from
Florida to southern Brazil. Specimens from Alligator Reef fit descriptions
of all three species with the smnllest specimens generally corresponding
best with braslllensis, medium sized ones with anchovlo and the largest
specimens with pinnulo. More than one type frequently occurs Ih the same
school and It appears probable that only one biological species is Involved.
Only the oldest name, anchovla, Is therefore recognized here. This name
has previously been used extensively for the Florida species.
ENGRAULIDAE - ANCHOVIES
Anchoa lyolepis (Evermann and Marsh), DUSKY ANCHOVY, common, Inshore,
UMML.

16
Anchoa mitchillI (Valenciennes), BAY ANCHOVY, common, Inshore, UMML.
SYNODONTIDAE - LIZARDFISHES
+Saurlda norman! Longley, SHORTJAW LIZARDFISH, frequent to common, reef
and offshore, UMML.
Synodus foetens (Llnnaeus), INSHORE LIZAREFISH, frequent, UMML.
+Synodus Intermedlus (Spix), SAND DIVER, occasional reef, common offshore,
UMML.
+Synodus poeyl Jordan, OFFSHORE LIZARDFISH, occasional reef, common
offshore, UMML.
*Synodus synodus (Llnnaeus), RED LIZARDFISH, common, UMML.
+Trachlnocephalus myops (Forster), SNAKEFISH, frequent, reef and offshore,
UMML.
ARGENTINIDAE - ARGENTINES
Glossanodon pygmaeus Cohen, PYGMY ARGENTINE, rare, offshore, UMML.
ARIIDAE - SEA CATFISHES
Galelchthys fells (Linnaeus), SEA CATFISH, occasional, Inshore.
XENOCONGRIDAE - PENCIL EELS
+Chllorhinus suensonl Lbtken, STUBBY PENCIL EEL, rare, UMML. First
record for Florida.
*Kauplchthys atlanticus Bohlke, GRAY PENCIL EEL, occasional, UMML.
First record for Florida.
CONGRIDAE - CONGER EELS
+Arlosoma Impressa (Poey), BANDTOOTH CONGER, rare, UMML.
*Conger trlporiceps Kanazana, MANYTOOTH CONGER, rare, UMML.
*Nystactichthys halls (B8hlke), GARDEN EEL, frequent, UMML. First record
for Florida.
4Fbrmconger caudlllmbatus (Poey), MARGINTAIL CONGER, rare, UMML.
MORINGUIDAE - SPAGHETTI EELS
*Morlngua edwardsl (Jordan and Bol mon), SPAGHETTI EEL, frequent, UMML.
First record for Florida.
Only one species of this family Is presently recognized in the West Indian
Region but some workers believe that further Investigation may reveal more
than one species Is Involved. The present species identification is there-
fore tentative.
OPHICHTHIDAE - SNAKE EELS
+AhIlo egmontls (Jordan), KEY WORM EEL, occasional, UMML.
*Aprognothodon platyventrls B8hlke, BANDED SNAKE EEL, occasional, UMML.
+Bascanichthys scuticarls (Goode and Bean), WHIP EEL, rare, UMML.
*Carolophlo loxochila B6hlke, FLANGED SNAKE EEL, rare, UMML. First
record for Florida.
+Echlopsis mordax (Poey), SNAPPER EEL, rare, UMML.
*Myrichthys acuminatus (Gronow), SHARPTAIL EEL, rare, UMML.
+MyrIchthys oculatus (Koup), GOLDSPOTTED EEL, occaslonal, UMML.
Included by Balley et ol.(1960), but not previously recorded from U.S.
waters.
+Myrophls punctatus Lftken, SPECKLED WORM EEL, occasional, UMML.

17
+Sphogebranchus ophioneus (Evermann and Marsh), SURF EEL, frequent,
UMML. Bbhlke (MS) has synonymized S. conklini with S. ophioneus,
leaving only one recognized species in the West Indian Region.
4+Verma sp., AUGERNOSE WORM EEL, frequent, UMML.
+Verma sp., BLUNTNOSE WORM EEL, frequent, UMML.
Due to the present state of systematic knowledge of this genus it is not
possible to give positive identifications. At least one species is new
according to Dr. James E. Bbhlke who is studying this material for a
future report.
MURAENIDAE - MORAYS
*Echidna catenata iBloch), CHAIN MORAY, rare, UMML.
*Enchelycorenigricons (Bonnoterre), VIPER MORAY, common, UMML.
Included by Bailey et ol. (1960) but not previously recorded from U.S.
waters.
*Enchelycore sp., DWARF VIPER MORAY, common, UMML. An undescribed
species of moray closely related to E. nigricans but smaller. What appears
to be the same species occurs in the Bahamas and the Antilles.
*Gymnothorax funebris Ranzani, GREEN MORAY, frequent to common, UMML.
*Gymnothorax moringa (Cuvier), SPOTTED MORAY, common, UMML.
+Gymnothorax nigromarginatus (Girard), BLACKEDGE MORAY, rare, UMML.
*Gymnothorox vicinus (Castelnou), PURPLEMOUTH MORAY, common,UMML.
*Muroeno millaris (Kaup), GOLDENTAIL MORAY, frequent, UMML.
Included by Bailey et al. (1960), but not previously recorded from U.S.
waters.
*Uropterygius diopus B8hlke, FINLESS MORAY, occasional, UMML.
BELONIDAE - NEEDLEFISHES
Ablennes hiaons (Valenciennes), FLAT NEEDLEFISH, occasional, offshore,
UMML.
+Plotybelone argalus (Lesueur), KEELED NEEDLEFISH, common, UMML.
Strongylura marina (Walboum), ATLANTIC NEEDLEFISH, common, inshore.
Strongylure notata (Poey), REDFIN NEEDLEFISH, common, inshore, UMML.
Tylosurus acus (Lac6pe'de), AGUJON, occasional, offshore, UMML.
+Tylosurus crocodilus (Peron and Lesueur), HOUNDFISH, common, UMML.
HEMIRAMPHIDAE - HALFBEAKS
Chriodorus atherinoides Goode and Bean, HARDHEAD HALFBEAK, occasional,
inshore, UMML.
EuleDtoromDhus velox Poey, FLYING HALFBEAK, occasional, offshore,UN'ML.
Hemiramphus balao Lesueur, BALAO, frequent, offshore, UMML.
+Hemiromphus brasiliensis (Linnoeus), BALLYHOO, common, reef and off-
shore, UMML.
Hyporhomphus unifasciatus (Ranzani), HALFBEAK, frequent, offshore
(Juvenile), and inshore (Adult), UMML.
EXbOCOETIDAE - FLYINGFISHES
Cypselurus exsiliens (Linnaeus), BANDWING FLYINGFISH, offshore, UMMlL.
Observations and collections of most species of flyingfishes are
Insufficient to permit any realistic attempt at classification as to
"occasional", "frequent", etc.
Cypselurus furcatus (Mitchill), SPOTFIN FLYINGFISH, offshore, UMML.

Cypselurus heterurus (Raflnesque), ATLANTIC FLYINGFISH, common,
offshore, UMML.
Exocoetus obtus irostri s Gbnther, OCEANIC TWO-WING F LYINGFISH, off-
shore, UMML.
HIlrundichthys off lns (Gfdnther), FOURWING F LYINGFISH, o fsoe UMML.
HI rundlchtnys ronde let i (Vol enc lennes), BLACRWING FLYINGF ISH, offshore,
UMML.
Parexocoetus brachypterus (Rilchardson', SAILFIN F LYINGFISH, common,
offshore, UMML.
Prognichthys gIbbifrons (Val enciennes), BLUNTNOSE FLYINGFISH, common,
offshore, UMML.
CYPRINODONTIDAE - KILLIFISHES
Plorldlchthys carplo (GdUnther), GOLDSPOTTED KILLIFISH, common, Inshore,
UMML,
Fundulus confiluentus Goode and Bean, MARSH KILLIFISH, common, Inshore,
UMML.
Fundulus simillIs (Baird and Girard), LONGNOSE KILLIFISH, common, Inshore,
-UMML.
POECILIIDAE - LIVEBEARERS
Gombuslo offln miBaird and Girard), MOSQUITOFISH, common, Inshore, UMML.
Poecilia latiplnna (Lesueur), SAILFIN MOLLY, common, Inshore, UMML.
AULOSTOMfDAE - TRUMPETFISHES
*Aulostornus moculotus Valenciennes, TRUMPETFISH, frequent, UMM.L.

FISTULARIIDAE - CORNETFISHES
*F istuloria tabocbria Linnaeus, CORNETFISH, frequent, UMML.

CENTRISCIDAE - SNIPEFISHES
Macrorhomohosus grac ills (Lowe), SLENDER SNIPEFISH, rore, offshore,
UMML.
SYNGNATHIDAE - PIPEFISHES AND SEAHORSES
+Corytho[6hthys aibirostris Heckel, WHITENOSE PIPEFISH, rare, UMML.
Corytholchthyvs brachycp~hal us (Poey), CRESTED PIPEFISH, cmo, Inshore,
UMML.
+Hlppocarnpus erectus Perry, RIBBED SEAHORSE, frequent, UMML. This
common name has been changed f rom that of Ba IlIey et al .(I1g60) to ovoi d
confusion with the following species.
+HIppocompus reidi Ginsburg, SPOTTED SEAHORSE, rare, UMML. First
record for Florida.
Hippocampus zosterae Jordan and Gilbert, DWARF SEAHORSE, frequent,
Inshore.
+Mlcrognathus crInIgerus (Bean and Dresel), FRINGED PIPEFISH, frequent,
UMML.
+Micrognathus crInitus (Jenyns),'INSULAR PIPEFISH, f eun, UMML.
+Micrognothus vittatus (Kaup), (both ensenadae and vittatus color patterns)
BANDED PIPEFISH, occasional, UMML. Due to differences In ecology,
and behavior, the author Is of the opinion that the two forms are probably
separate species.
+Syngnathus elucens Poey, SHORTFIN PIPEFISH, rare, UMML.

19
+Syngnathus louisianae Gf~nther, CHAIN PIPEFISH, rare, UMML.
Syngnathus pelagicus Linnaeus, SARGASSUM PIPEFISH, rare, offshore,
UMML.
+Syngnathus springeri Herald, BULL PIPEFISH, rare, UMML.
HOLOCENTRIDAE - SQUIRRELFISHES
*Adloryx bullisi (Woods), DEEPWATER SQUIRRELFISH, frequent, UMML.
*Adioryx coruscus (Poey), REEF SQUIRRELFISH, frequent, UMML.
*Adioryx vex~liarius (Poey), DUSKY SQUIRRELFISH, common, UMML.
*Holocentrus ascensionis (Osbeck), SQUIRRELFISH, common, UMML.
*Hoiocentrus rufus (WalIbaum), LONGSPINE SQUIRRELF ISH, frequent, UMML.
*MyrlprIstIs jacobus Cuvier, SOLDIERFISH, occasional to frequent, UMM'L.
*Plectrypops retrospinis (Guichenot), CARDINAL SOLDIERFISH, one sight
record only. Bailey et a1_. (1960) Include It, but there Is no previous
record from U.S. waters published or unpublished.
CAPPROIDAE - BOARFISHES
Antigonia capros Lowe, DEEPBODY BOARFISH, rare, offshore, UMML.
CENTROPOMIDAE - SNOOKS
+Centropomus undecimalis (Bloch), SNOOK, common, UMML.
SERRANIDAE - SEA BASSES
*Alphestes afer (Bloch), MUTTON HAMLET, rare, UMML.
Anthia s p,7?unidentlfied), rare, offshore, UMML.
*Cephaiophoi is fuivd (L innaeus), CONEY, occasional, UMML.
*Dermatolepis inermis (Valenciennes), MARBLED GROUPER, rare, UMML.
+Dlplectrum bivittatum (Valenciennes), DWARF- SAND PERCH, common, UMML.
---Diplectrum formosum (Linnaeus), SAND PERCH, frequent, UMV-L.
*EpInephelus odscensionls (Osbeck), ROCK HIND, common, UMML.
EpInephelus drummondhayi Goode and Bean, SPECKLED HIND, common, off-
shore, UMML.
Ep inephelius fiavollimbatus Poey, YELLOWEDGE GROUPER, common, offshore.
*Eplnephelus guttatus (Llnnaeus), RED HIND, common, UMM1L.
+Eptnephelus ito bra (Lichtenstein), JEWFISH, frequent, UMM'L.
+Epinephelus mario (Valenciennes), RED GROUPER, common, UMML.
Epinephelus mystacinus (Poey), MISTY GROUPER, rare, offshore, UMML.
Epinephelus nigritus Holbrook),I WARSAW GROUPER, common, offshore, UMML.
Epinephelus niveatus (Vol enc lennes), SNOWY GROUPER, common, offshore,
UMML.
*Eplnephelus striatus (Bloch), NASSAU GROUPER, common, UMML.
*Hypopiectrus gemma Goode and Bean, BLUE HAMLET, common, UMML.
(Figure 1)
*Hypoplectrus puttavars (Poey), FOUREYE HAMLET, occasional, UMML.
(Figure 2) Not previously recorded from Florida.
*Hypoplectruis nigricans (Poey), BLACK HAMLET, occasional, UKi!-~i.
(Figure 3) Not previously recorded from Florida.
*Hypoplectrus; puella (Cuvler), BANDED HAMLET, occasional, UMML.
(FIgure 4)
*Hypoplectrus unicolor (Walbaum), BUTTER HAMLET, common, UMML.
(Figure 5) In recent years most workers have relegated the many nominal
species of Hypoplectrus to the synonomy of H. unIcolor as a single
highly varIable species. Randall, BL~hlke, and the author believe, on the

20
basis of ecology, zoogeography, and some morphometric and merlstlc
evidence that a number of valid species are Involved. The five distinct
forms found at Alligator Reef have therefore been recognized as species
under the earliest name clearly based on each form. Only H. gemma Is, on
the basis of present evidence, restricted to Florida where It is quite common.
*Llopropoma eukrlnes (Starck and Courtenay), WRASSE BASS, frequent, UMML.
Placement In the genus Llopropoma is based on the recent capture of a
specimen of L. aberrans which proved to be Inseparable generically from
Chorlstistlum. This situation will be reported upon In detail by C. Richard
Robins who brought this to the author's attention. For further explanation
of generic relationships In this group of serranids see Starck and Court-
enay (1962: 164-165).
*Llopropoma mowbrayl Woods and Kanazawa, CAVE BASS, one specimen seen
but not collected. Not previously recorded from Florida.
*Llopropoma rubre Poey, PEPPERMINT BASS, occasional, UMML.
*Mycteroperca bonaci (Poey), BLACK GROUPER, common, UMML.
*Mycteroperca Interstitial s (Poey), SALMON GROUPER, common, UMML.
+Mycteroperco microlepls (Goode and Bean), GAG, common, UMML.
*Mycteroperca phenax Jordan and Swain, SCAMP, common, UMML.
*Mycteroperca tigrls (Valenclennes), TIGER GROUPER, rare, sight record only.
*Mycteroperco venenosa (Linnaeus), YELLOWFIN GROUPER, occasional, UMML.
*Paronthlas furcIfer (Valenclennes), CREOLE FISH, occasional, UMML.
*Petrometopon cruentatum (Lacepe'de), GRAYSBY, common, UvMMvL.
*Schultzetta beta (Hildebrand), SCHOOL BASS, frequent, UMML.
+Serrniculus pumillo Ginsburg, PYGMY SEA BASS, rare, UMML.
*Serranus annularis (G~nther), ORANGEBACK BASS, common, UMML.
Serronus atrobranchus (Cuvier), BLACKEAR BASS, rare, offshore, UMML.
*Serranus baldwini (Evermann and Marsh), LANTERN BASS, common, UIVMML.
+Serranus chlonarala Robins and Starck, SNOW BASS, occasional, UMML.
+Serranus notospilus Langley, SADDLE BASS, occasional, UMML.
+Serranus phoebe Poey, TATTLER, common, UMML.
*Serronus tabacorius (Cuvler), TOBACCO FISH, common, UMML.
*Serronus tigrlnus (Bloch), HARLEQUIN BASS, common, UMML.
+Serranus tortugarum Longley, CHALK BASS, common, UMML.
LOBOTIDAE - TRIPLETAILS
Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch), TRIPLETAIL, occasional both offshore and In-
shore, UMML.
GRAMMISTIDAE - SOAPFISHES
*Pseudogrommus gregoryl (Breder), REEF BASS, occaslonal, UMML.
P. bermudensis (Kanazawa) and P. brederl (Hildebrond) are considered
here to be Junior synonyms.
*Rypticus bistrlspinus (Mitchill), FRECKLED SOAPFISH, occasional, UMML.
The name used here Is that recommended by Walter R. Courtenay in his
manuscript review of the genus. This species was previously known as
Rypticus arenotus.
*Rypticus saponaceus (Bloch and Schneider), SOAPFISH, frequent, UMML.
*Rypticus subbifrenatus Gill, SPOTTED SOAPFISH, common, UMML.
Included by Bailey et al. (1960) but not previously recorded from U.S.
waters.
CIRRHITIDAE - HAWKFISHES
*Amblyclrrhltus pinos (Mowbray), CARIBBEAN HAWKFISH, frequent, UMML.

21
LUTJANIDAE - SNAPPERS
Agpsllus dentatus Guichenot, BLACK SNAPPER, rare, offshore, UMML.
Included by Balleye2t al. (1960) but apparently not previously recorded
from U.S. waters.
*Lutlanus analls (Cuvier), MUTTON SNAPPEIR, common, UMML.
*Lutjonuspds (Walboum), SCHOOLMASTER, abundant, UMML.
Lutjanus cornpechanus (Poey), RED SNAPPER, occasional, offshore, UMML.
+LHUtanus buccanella (Cuvier), BLACKFIN SNAPPER'$ frequent, juveniles
only, UMML.
*Lutlonus cyanoptrus (Poey), CUBERA SNh.PPER, occasional, UMML.
+Lutjanus prisus(UL-nnaeus), GRAY OR MANGROVE SNAPPER, abundant, UMML.
*Lutjanus ocu Bloch and Schneider),r DOG SNAPPER, frequent, UMML.
*Lutlanus mahogoni (Cuvier), MAHOGANY SNAPPER, occasional, UMM~.L.
+Lutlon us~ ynogris (Linnaeus), LANE SNAPPER, frequent, UMML.
+Lutlanus vivanus (Cuvier), SILK SNAPPER, occasional, juveniles only,UMML.
*Ocyurus chrysurus (Bloch), YELLOWTAIL, abundant, UMML.
PRIACANTHIDAE - BIGEYES
*Prioacnthus orenatus CuVier, BIGEYE, rare, UMMvL.
*Priaconthus cruentatus (Lac~p~de), GLASSEYE SNAPPER, frequent,UMML.
+Pristigenys alto (Gill), SHORT BIGEYE, occasional, UMM-L.
APOGONIDAE - CARDINALFISHES
*Apogon aural ineatus (Mowbray), BRIDLE CARDINALFISH, occasional ,UMMVL.
*Apogon binotatus (Poey), BARRED CARD?!WAtr-SH, fir~quent, UVIL.
*A29gon conki JI n (Sliivester), FRECKLED CARDbINA LFISH, corrnon, UMML.
*A~paon lachnerl B8hike, WHITESTAR CA~RbINALFISH, frequent, UMM~L.
Inciuded by Bailey et ial. (1960) butl.not previously recorded from U.S.
waters.
*Appogan maculatus (Poey), FLAMEFISH, abundant, UMML.
*Ap2Eon. plgmenta~rius (Poey),. DUSKY CARDINALFISH, occasional, UMML.
*,pogon sp. , SADDLETAIL CARDINALFISH,.-rare, UMML. A new speciles to
be described by B~5hlke and Randall under the species name pillionotus.
*Apogon planifrons Longley and Hildebrand, PALE CARDINA.LFISH, frequent,
UMML.
*Apogon pseudomaculatus Langley, TWOSPOT CARDINALFISH, freq~uent, UMMIL.
*Aepogn quodri squamatus Langley, SAWCHE EK CARDINA LFISH, frequent,
UMML.
*Apagon townsendl (Breder), BELTED CARDINALFISH, occasional, UMML.
Included by Bailey et al. (1960) but apparently not previously recorded
from U.S. waters.
*Apogon sp., SPONGE CARDINALFISH, rare, UMML. A new species to be
described by Bbhlke and Randall under- the species name xenus.
*Astrapogan olutus (Jordan and Gilbert), BRONZE CARDINALFISH, occasional,
UMML.
*~Astrapogon punticulotus (Poey), BLACKE-IN CARDINALPISH, frequent ,UMM'L.
*Astrapagon steliatus (Cope), CONCHFISH, occasional, UMML.
*Cheiladlpterus off Ins Poey, BIGTOOTH CARDINALFISH, occasional, UJMML.
First record for Florida.
Synagrops belle (Goode and Bean), DEEPSEA CARDINALFISH, common, off-
shore, UMML.
BRANCHIOSTEGIDAE - TILEFISHES
Couloiatlius cyanaps Poey, BLACKLINE TILEFISH, common, offshore, UMt'!1I

22
Lopholatllus chamaeleonticeDs Goode and Bean, TILEFISH, rare, offshore,
UMML.
*Malacanthus plumlerl (Bloch), SAND TILEFISH, common, UMML.
POMATOMIDAE - BLUEFISHES
Pomatomus saltotrix (Llnnaeus), BLUEFISH, occasional In winter.
RACHYCENTRIDAE - COBIAS
Rachycentron canadum (Llnnaeus), COBIA, occasional, reef and offshore.
CARANGIDAE - JACKS
+Alectis crinitus (Mitchill), AFRICAN POMPANO, frequent, UMML.
*Caranx bortholomael Cuvier, YELLOW JACK, common, UMML.
+Caranx fusus Geoffrey, BLUE RUNNER, common, UMML.
-+Caornx hippos (Llnnaeus), CREVALLE JACK, frequent, common Inshore, UMML.
+Caranx lotus Agassiz, HORSE-EYE JACK, frequent, UVMVL.
*Oaranx ruber (Bloch), BAR JACK, common, UMMIL.
Chloroscombrus chrysurus (Linnaeus), BUMPER, occasional, sight record
only.
+Decopterus punctotus (Agassiz), ROUND SCAD, frequent, UMML.
*Elogotis biplinnulatus (Quoy and Galmard), RAINBOW RUNNER, frequent, UMML.
Ol gopl tes saurus (Bloch and Schneider), LEATHERJACKET,'frequent, In-
shore.
+Selar crumenophthalmus (Bloch), BIGEYE SCAD, occasional, UMML.
Selene vomer (Linnaeus), LOOKDOWN, common, Inshore, UMML.
+Serlola dumerlll (Rlsso), AMBERJACK, common, UMML.
Serlola rivollana Valenciennes, ALMACO JACK, frequent, offshore, UMML.
Serlola zonata (Mitchill), BANDED RUDDERFISH, rare, offshore.
Trachinotus carollnus (Llnnaeus), POMPANO, frequent,' Inshore, UMML.
+Trachinotus falcotus (Linnaeus), PERMIT, frequent.
+Trachurus lathomi Nichols, ROUGH SCAD, occasional, UMML.
Vomer setapinnis (Mitchill), MOONFISH, rare, UMML.
CORyPHAENIDAE - DOLPHINS
Coryphaena equlsetis Linnaeus, POMPANO DOLPHIN, occasional to frequent,
offshore, UMML .
Coryphaeno hippurus Linnaeus, DOLPHIN, common, offshore, UMML.
GERREIDAE - MOJARRAS
+Euclnostomus argenteus Baird and Girard, SLENDER MOJARRA, common,
UMML.
+Euclnostomus gula (Quoy and Galmard), SILVER JENNY, common, UMMVIL.
+Gerres cinereus (Walboum), YELLOWFIN MOJARRA, frequent, reef, common
Inshore, UMML.
POMADASYIDAE - GRUNTS
*Anlsotremus surlnomensis (Bloch), BLACK MARGATE, common, UMML.
*Anisotremus virginicus (Linnaeus), PORKFISH, common, UMML.
*Hoemulon album Cuvler, MARGATE, common, UMML.
*Haemulon ourollneatum Cuvler, TOMTATE, abundant, UMML.
*Haemulon carbonarlum Poey, CAESAR GRUNT, common, UMML.
*Haemulon chrysorgyreum GUnther, SMALLMOUTH GRUNT, abundant, UMML..
*Hoemulon flovol neatum (Desmarest), FRENCH GRUNT, abundant, UMML.
*Haemulon mocrostomum G6nther, SPANISH GRUNT, common, UMML.

*Haemulon melanurum (Linnaeus), COTTONWICK, occcslonal to frequent, UMML.
*Haemulon parral (Desmarest), SAILORS CHOICE, common, UMML.
*Haemulon plumlerl (Lac~pede), WHITE GRUNT, abundant, UMML.
*Haemulon sclurus (Show), BLUESTRIPED GRUNT, abundant, UMML.
*Haemulon strlatum (Llnnaeus), SMALLMOUTH TOMTATE, abundant', UMMIL.
OrthoprIstis chrysopterus (Linnaeus), PIGFISH, rare, Inshore.
SCIAENIDAE - DRUMS
+Balrdleila batabana (Poey), BLUE CROAKER, occasional, UMML.
*Equetus acuminatus (Bloch and Schneider), HIGH-HAT, common, UMML.
As used here acumlnotus applies to the species formerly known as pulcher
and the species formerly known as ocuminatus Is umbrosus. This change ls
based on the unpublished recommendation of George Miller. The common
names used here and for E. punctatus differ from those suggested by Bailey
et al. (1960) In accordance with popular usage.
*Equetus lanceolatus (Linnaeus), JACKKNIFE-FISH, occasional, UMML.
*Equetus punctatus (Bloch and Schneider), SPOTTED HIGH-HAT, occasional,
UMML. Included by Brlggs (1958) and Bailey et al. (1960) but not
previously recorded from U.S. waters.
+Equetus umbrosus Jordan and Elgenmann, CUBBYU, occasional, UMML.
*Odontoscion dentex (Cuvier), REEF CROAKER, common, UVMMIL.
Scloaenops ocellata (Linnaeus), RED DRUM OR CHANNEL BASS, occasional,
Inshore.
MULLIDAE - GOATFISHES
*Mulloidlchthys martlnicus (Cuvier), YELLOW GOATFISH, common, UMML.
*Pseudupeneus mac.ulotus (Bloch), SPOTTED GOATFISH, common, UMMVL.
SPARIDAE - PORGIES
Archosargus probatocephalus (Walbaum), SHEEPSHEAD, frequent, Inshore,
UMML.
+Archosargus rhomboldalls (Linnaeus), SEA BREAM, frequent, UMML.
+Calomus arctlfrons Goode and Bean, GRASS PORGY, occasional, UMML.
+Calamus bojonado (Bloch and Schneider), JOLTHEAD PORGY, occasional,
UMML.
"Calamus calamus (Valenciennes), SAUCEREYE PORGY, frequent, UMML.
+Calamus nodosus Randall and Caldwell, KNOBBED PORGY, frequent, UMML.
+Calamus prorldens Jordan and Gilbert, LITTLEHEAD PORGY, common, UMML.
Lagodon rhomboldes (Llnnaeus), PINFISH, abundant, Inshore, UMML.
EMMELICHTHYIDAE - BOGAS
*Emmellchthyops atlanticus Schultz, LITTLE BOGA, frequent, UMML.
*Inermlo vittata Poey, BOGA, occasional, UMML. First record for Florida.
PEMPHERIDAE - SWEEPERS
*Pempherls schomburgkl MOller and Troschel, GLASSY SWEEPER, common,
UMML.
KYPHOSIDAE - SEA CHUBS
*Kyphosis Incisor (Cuvier), YELLOW CHUB, common, UMML.
*Kyphosls sectatrix (Llnnaeus), BERMUDA CHUB, frequent, common Inshore,
UMML.
EPHIPPIDAE - SPADEFISHES
+Chaetodipterus faber (Broussonet), SPADEFISH, frequent to common, UMML.

24
CHAETODONTIDAE - BUTTERFLYFISHES AND ANGEL-FISHES
*Centropyge argl Woods and Kanazawa, PYGMY ANGELFISH, occasional, UMML.
Included by Briggs (1958) and Bailey et al. (1960)but not recorded previous-
ly from U.S. waters. Pygmy angelfish rather than cherubfish (Balley et
al.) Is In wide use by aquarlsts.
*Chaetodon capistratus Linnaeus, FOUREYED BUTTERFLYFISH, common,
UMML.
*Chaetodon ocellotus Bloch, COMMON BUTTERFLYFISH, common, UMML.
Common butterflyfish rather than spotfin butterflyfish (Boalley et al. , 1960)
Is widely used by aquarlsts and skindivers. The spot Is frequently absent
In the day.
*Chaetodon sedentorlus Poey, REEF BUTTERFLYFISH, common, UMML.
*Chaetodon strlatus Llnnaeus, BANDED BUTTERFLYFISH, common, UMML.
*Holacanthus cillarls (Llnnaeus), QUEEN ANGELFISH, common, UMIML.
*Holoconthus Isabellta (Jordan and Rutter), BLUE ANGELFISH, common, UMML.
*Holacanthus tricolor (Bloch), ROCK BEAUTY, common, UMML.
*Pomacanthus arcuatus (Linnaeus), BLACK ANGELFISH, common, UMML.
The species name arcuatus as used here applies to the species called
aureus by most previous atuhors. Likewise paru as used here equals
arcuatus of previous authors. This nomenclature and the use of Isabellta
for the blue angelfish has been recommended by Henry A. Feddern
(personal communication) who Is reviewing the Western Atlantic angelfishes.
The common name black angelfish rather than gray angelfish (Balley et al.,
1960) Is agaln a widely used name by aquarlsts, skindivers, and fishermen
while gray angelfish is not.
*Pomacanthus paru (Bloch), FRENCH ANGELFISH, common, UMML..
*Prognothodes aculeatus (Poey), LONGSNOUT BUTTERFLYFISH, occaslonal,
UMML. Included by Bailey et al. (1960) but not previously recorded from
U.S. waters. Subsequently recorded by Hubbs (1963).
POMACENTRIDAE - DAMSELFISHES
*Abudefduf saxatills (Linnaeus), SERGEANT MAJOR, abundant. UMML.
+Abudefduf taurus (M8ller and Troschel), NIGHT SERGEANT, rare, inshore,
UMML.
'Chromis cyanea (Poey), BLUE CHROMIS, abundant, UMML. Included by
Bailey et al. (1960) but not previously reported. (Figures 6 and 7)
*Chromis enchrysurus Jordan and Gllbert, YELLOWTAIL REEF-FISH, abund-
ant, UMML. (Figure 8)
*Chromls Insolatus (Cuvler), SUNSHINE FISH, abundant, UMML. (Figure 9)
The common names of this species and of Chromls multillneota,
Mlcrospathodon chrysurus, and Eupomacentrus planifrons below are In
accordance with usage by aquarists and skindivers. Bailey et al. (1960)
offer other names.
*Chromis multillneoto (Gulchenot), GRAY CHROMIS, abundant, UMiVL.
! lures 10 and 11)
:is sp., PURPLE REEF-FISH, common, UMML. An undescribed species
closely related to Chromis Insolatus. (Flgures 12 and 13)
This species will be described In a forthcoming paper by Alan R. Emery
under the species name scottl.
*Eupomacentrus fuscus (Cuvler-7, DUSKY DAMSELFISH, common, UMML.
(FIgures 14 and 15)
*Eupomacentrus leucostictus (Maller and Troschel). BEAUGREGORY, common,
UMML. (Figure 16)

*Eupomacentrus sp., HONEY GREGORY, frequent, UMMIL. An undescribed
species close to'E. leucostlctus. (Figure 17) This species will be
described In a forthcoming paper by Alan R. Emery under the species
name mellis.
*Eupomocentrus partitus (Poey), BICOLOR DAMSELFISH, abundant, UMML.
(F gures 18, 19, and 20)
*Eupomacentrus planifrons (Cuvier), YELLOW DAMSELFISH, common, UMML.
(Figure 21)
*Eupomacentrus varlabilis (Castelnau), COCOA DAMSELFISH, abundant,
UMML. (Figure 22)
*Mlcrospathodon chrysurus (Cuvler), JEWELFISH, common, UMML.
(Figures 23 and 24)
LABRIDAE - WRASSES
*Bodloanus pulchellus (Poey), SPOTFIN HOGFISH, common, UMML. Included
by Bailey et al. (1960) but not previously recorded from U.S. waters.
Subsequently recorded by Randall (1962).
*Bodalnus rufus (Linnaeus), SPANISH HOGFISH, common, UMML.
*Clepticus parral (Bloch and Schneider), CREOLE WRASSE, common, UMML.
Included by Bailey et al. (1960) but not previously recorded from U.S.
waters.
Decodon puellarls (Poey), CUBAN HOGFISH, common, offshore, UMML.
*Doratonotus megalepis Ganther, DWARF WRASSE, common, UMIL.
*Hallchoeres bathyphilus (Beebe and Tee-Van), GREENBAND WRASSE, rare,
UMML. Included by Bolley et al. (1960) but not previously recorded from
U. S. waters. Subsequently recorded by Randall and EBilke (1965).
*Hallchoeres blvittatus (Bloch), SLIPPERY DICK, abundant, UMML.
*Hallchoeres caudalls (Poey), PAINTED WRASSE, occaslonal, UMML.
*Holichoeres cyanocephalus (Bloch), YELLOWBACK WRASSE, frequent, UMML.
*Hallchoeres garnotl (Valenciennes), YELLOWHEAD WRASSE, abundant,UMML.
*Hollchoeres macuilpinno (M011er and Troschel), CLOWN WRASSE, abundant,
UMML.
*Hallchoeres pictus (Poey), STRIPED WRASSE, frequent, UMML. First
record for Florida.
*Hallchoeres poeyl (Stelndochner), BLACKEAR WRASSE, common, UMML.
*Hallchoeres radlatus (Linnaeus), PUDDINGWIFE, common, UMML.
*Hemlpteronotus martlnicensis (Valenciennes), ROSY RAZORFISH, frequent,
UMML. Randall (1965b: 499) has pointed out that the Xyrichthys
martinicensis of Longley and Hlldebrand (1941) is Hemlpteronotus splenders,
thus H. martinicensis is previously unrecorded Trol Florida. Inclusion
by Briggs (1958) and Bailey et al. (1960) Is apparently based on Langley
and HlIdebrand (1941).
*Hemipteronotus novacula (Linnaeus), PEARLY RAZORFISH, common, UMML.
*Hemlpteronotus sp!endens (Castelnau), GREEN RAZORFISH, common, UMML.
*Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum), HOGFISH, common, UMML.
*Tholassoma bifasclatum (Bloch), BLUEHEAD WRASSE, abundant, UMML.
SCARIDAE - PARROTFISHES
*Cryptotomus roseus Cope, BLUELIP PARROTFISH, common, UMMIVL.
+Nlcholslna usto (Valenciennes), EMERALD PARROTFISH, frequent, UMML.
*Scarus coelestinus Valenclennes, INDIGO PARROTFISH, common, UMML.
The common names used here and for Sporlsoma rubriplnne differ from
-those used by Bailey et al. (1960) In order to conform to widespread usage.
*Scorus coeruleus (Bloch, BTLUE PARROTFISH, common, UMML.

26
*Scarus crolcensis Bloch, STRIPED PARROTFISH, common, UMML.
*Scarus guacamalo Cuvler, RAINBOW PARROTFISH, common, UMML.
*Scarus taenlopterus Desmarest, RIBBON PARROTFISH, frequent, UMML.
Not Included by Briggs (1958) or Bailey et al. (1960) as the name was In
synonomy with Scarus crolcensls at that tlme. Randall (1963a: 228) has
pointed out the valldlty of this species. Breder (1948) correctly Identifled
the male of Scarus taenlopterus and stated that It reaches Florida.
*Scorus vetula Bloch and Schneider, QUEEN PARROTFISH, common, UMML
*Sporlsoma atomarlum (Poey), DEEPWATER PARROTFISH, common, UMML.
*Sparlsoma aurofrenatum (Valenciennes), WHITESPOT PARROTFISH, common,
UMML. The common names suggested by Bailey et al. (1960) for this
species and for S. chrysopterum and S. virlde are not In wide usage and
are misleading for the live fish; therefore, other names are suggested
here.
*Sparlsoma chrysopterum (Bloch and Schnelder), TURQUOISE PARROTFISH,
frequent, UMML.
*Sporlsoma radians (Valenciennes), BUCKTOOTH PARROTFISH, common,
UMML.
*Sparlsomo rubrlpinne (Valenciennes), MUD PARROTFISH, common, UMML.
*Sporlsomo virlde (Bonnaterre), GREEN PARROTFISH, common, UMML.
ACANTHURIDAE - SURGEONFISHES
*Aconthurus bahlanus Castelnou; OCEAN SURGEON, common, UMML.
*Acanthurus chlrurgus (Bloch), DOCTORFISH, common, UMML.
*Aconthurus coeruleus Bloch and Schneider, BLUE TANG, common, UMML.
GEMPYLIDAE - SNAKE MACKERELS

Gerrpvlus serpens Cuvier, SNAKE MACKEREL, rare, offshore, UMML.
SCOMBRIDAE - MACKERELS AND TUNAS
Acanthocybium solanderl (Cuvier), WAHOO, occasional, offshore.
Auxis thazard (Lacepede), FRIGATE MACKEREL, occasional, offshore, UMML.
Euthynnus alletteratus (Raflnesque), LITTLE TUNA, common, offshore, UMML.
Euthynnus pelomls (Llnnaeus), SKIPJACK OR ARTIC BONITO, common, off-
shore', UMML.
+Scomberomorus covalla (Cuvier), KING MACKEREL, abundant In winter,
UMML.
Scomberomorus moculotus (Mitchill), SPANISH MACKEREL, frequent to
abundant In winter.
+Scomberomorus regalls (Bloch), CERO, common, UMML.
Thunnus olbocares (Bonnoterre), YELLOWFIN TUNA, frequent, offshore,
UMMI_ .
.:tlantlcus (Lesson), BLACKFIN TUNA, common, offshore, UMML.
,,Iunnus thynnus (Llnnoeus), BLUEFIN TUNA, occasional, Juveniles only,
offshore, UMML.
ISTIOPHORIDAE - BILLFISHES
Istlophorus platypterus (Show and Nodder), SAILFISH, common, offshore,
UMML. This name follows Whitehead's (1964) paper polnting out platy-
pterus as the earliest available name for a sailfish (from the Indian Ocean)
and James E. Morrow's unpublished study of the genus Istlophorus
plocing all nominal forms In one worldwide species.
Makalra nigricons Lacepede, BLUE MARLIN, occasional, offshore, UMML.
Tetrapturus albidus Poey, WHITE MARLIN, occasional, offshore.

27
Tetrapturus pf lugerl Robins and deSylva, LONGBILL SPEARFISH, rare,
of fshore.
XIPHIIDAE - SWORDIPISHES
Xlphlas qadlus Linnaeus, SWORDFISH, rare, offshore.
ELEOTRIDAE - SLEtEPERS
*Iogiossus caiiiurus Bean, BLUE SLEEPER, common, UMML.

GOBIIDAE - GOBIES
+Barbullfer ceuthoecus (Jordan and Gilbert), BEARDED GOBY, frequent, UMMIL.
Bathygoblus mystacium Ginsburg, TIDEPOOL GOBY, rare, Inshore, UMML.
First record for Florida.
BathygobLI lssoporator (Valenc iennes), FRIL LFIN GOBY, common, Inshore,
UMML.
*Coryphopterus oflolodes Bbhlke and Rbn, SPLITFIN GOBY, re, UMML.
First record for Florida.
*Coryphopterus dIcrus Bbhike and Robins, DOUBLESPOT GORY, common,
UMML.
*Coryphopterus eidoion Bbhlke and Robins, GHOST GORY, common, UMML.
+2-oryphopterus gloucofraenum Guil, BRIDLED GORY, common, UMIML.
*Coryphopterus hyalinus Bi5hike and Robins, GLASS GORY, occasional, UMMIL
*Coryphopterus llpernes B~5hIke and Robins, BLUENOSE GOBY, frequent,
UMML.
*Coryphopterus personatus (~Jordan and Thompson), MASKED GOBY, abundant,
UMML.
+Corvphopterus pun~ttipectorphorus Springer, SPOTTED GOBY, frequent,
UMML.
*Coryphopterus thrix B?3hlke and Robins, BARTAIL GOBY, occasional, UMMIL.
First record for Florida.
*Eiacatinus oceanops Jordan, NEON GORY, common, UMML.
*Garmannia grosvenorl Robins, DWARF SAND GOBY, occasional, UMMIL.
+Garmannfa macradon (Beebe and Tee-Von), TIGER GORY, frequent, UMML.
4 *Gnathaieplsthompsoni Jordan, GOLDSPOT GORY, common, UMML.
Gobioneilus boleosoma (Jordan ard Gilbert), DARTER GORY, occasional,
Iinshore, UMML.
*Gobi~oneiius sp., DASH GOBY, frequent, UMML. An unde~cribed species.
To be described by Gilbert and Randaillu-icr the species name scepepailer-..
+iGobionelius stigmalophlus Mead and B~5hlke, SPOTGIN GORY, frequent, UW4-L
Gobiosoma robustum Ginsburg, CODE GOBY, frequent, Inshore,
*Gobiosorna sp., YELLOWLINE GORY, rare, UMMIL. This species has
formerly been Identified as G. horsti which does not occur In Florida.
It will be described by Bbhlke and Robins under the species name xonthlpor~.-
*Lythrypnujs nesiotes RB5hlke and Robins,-ISLAND GORY, rare, UMML.
First record for Florida.
*Lythrypnus phorelilus B~hIke and Robins, PRISONER GOBY, frequent, UMNIL.
*Lythrypnus spilus BL3hlke Qnd Robins, DARKSHOULDER GORY, frequent,
UMML.
*Mlcrogobius carri Fowler, SEMINOLE GOBY, common, UMML.
*Nes longu (Nichols), ORANGESPOTTED GOBY, occasiona, UMML. Place-
ment of this species In the genus Nes Is done on the unpublished recomnmeri--
ation of C. Richard Robins.
*Qulsquillus hipoliti (Metzelaar), REEF GORY, common, UMML.

28
MICRODESMIDAE - WORMFISHES

*Mlcrodesmus floridonus (Langley), PUGJAW WORMFISH, occasional, UWML.
SCORPAENIDAE - SCORPIONFISHES

Pontinus rothbuni Goode and Bean, HIGHFIN SCORPIONFISH, occasional,
offshore, UMML.
Scorpaena agassizi Goode and Bean, LONGFIN SCORPIONFISH, frequent,
offshore, UMML.
*Scorpoena albifimbria Evermann and Marsh, CORAL SCORPIONFISH, rare,
UMML.
*Scorpaena bergi Evermann and Marsh, GOOSEHEAD SCORPIONFISH,
occasional, UMML.
+Scorpoena calcorata Goode and Bean, SMOOTHHEAD SCORPIONFISH,
frequent, UMML.
+Scorpaena dispar Longley and Hildebrand, HUNCHBACK SCORPIONFISH,
occasional, UMML.
*Scorpaoena elachys Eschmeyer, DWARF SCORPIONFISH, rare, UMML.
+Scorpaeno grandicornis Cuvier, PLUMED SCORPIONFISH, occasional ,UMML.
This name rather than "lionfish" of Bailey et al. (1960) is used to avoid
confusion with the Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois).
*Scorpoaena inermis Cuvier, MUSHROOM SCORPIONFISH, occasional,UMML.
*Scorpoena plumieri Bloch, SPOTTED SCORPIONFISH, frequent, UV.ML.
*Scorpaenodes caribbaeus Meek and Hildebrand, REEF SCORPIONFISH,
frequent, UMVML. (Figure 25)
*Scorpaenodes tridecimspinosus (Metzelaar), DEEPREEF SCORPIONFISH,
occasional, UMML. First record for Florida. (Figure 26)
TRIGLIDAE - SEAROBINS
Bellator brachychir (Regan), SHORTFIN SEAROBIN, common, offshore,UMML.
Bellator egretto (Goode and Bean), STREAMER SEAROBIN, offshore,UMML.
Bellotor militaris (Goode and Bean), HORNED SEAROBIN, abundant, offshore,
UMML.
Peristedion grocile Goode and Bean, SLENDER SEAROBIN, offshore.
The record of this species was kindly furnished by George Miller.
Peristedion platycephalum (Goode and Bean), FLATHEAD SEAROBIN, off-
shore, UMML.
Prionotus olatus Goode and Bean, SPINY SEAROBIN, offshore, UMML.
DACTYLOPTERIDAE - FLYING GURNARDS
+Dactylopterus volitons (Linnaeus), FLYING GURNARD, occasional, UMML.
OPISTOGNATHIDAE - JAWFISHES
+Lonchopisthus lindneri Ginsburg, SWORDTAIL JAWFISH, rare, UMML.
*Opistognathus aurifrons (Jordan and Thompson), YELLOWHEAD JAWFISH,
common, UMML.
*Opistognathus cuvieri Valenciennes, PHANTOM JAWFISH, rare, UMML.
First record for Florida.
+Opistognathus lonchurus Jordan and Gilbert, MOUSTACHE JAWFISH, frequent,
UMML. Longtail jawfish of Bailey et aol. (1960) does not appear appropriate
for this fish.
+Opistognothus macrognathus Poey, LONGJAW JAWFISH, occasional, UMML.
*Opistognathus whitehursti (Langley), DUSKY JAWFISH, common, UMML.

DACTYLOSCOPIDAE - SAND STARGAZERS

+Dactyloscopus trldigitotus Gill, SAND STARGAZER, occaslonal, UMML.
*Glilellus greyae Kanozawa, ARROW STARGAZER, frequent, UMML.
*Heterlstlus rubrocinctus (Langley), SADDLE STARGAZER, common, UMIVL.
CALLIONYMIDAE - DRAGONETS

Colllonymus agosslzl Goode and Bean, LANCER DRAGONET, common, offshore,
UMML.
*Calllonymus bolrdl Jordan, CORAL DRAGONET, frequent, UMML.
+CalIlonymus pauciradlatus Gill, SPOTTED DRAGONET, occasional, UMML.
CLINIDAE - CLINIDS
*Acanthemblemarla aspera (Longley), ROUGHHEAD BLENNY, common, UMML.
+Chaenopsls ocellata Poey, BLUETHROAT PIKEBLENNY, rare, UMML.
*Chaenopsis I mbaughl Robins and Randall, SAND PIKEBLENNY, occasional,
UMMIvIL. First record for Florida.
*Emblemarla atlantica Jordan and Evermann, BANNER BLENNY, occasional,
UMML.
*Emblemarla pondlonis Evermann and Marsh, SAILFIN BLENNY, occoslonal,
UMML.
*Emblemoriopsis bottomel Stephens, MIDNIGHT BLENNY, occoslonal, UMML.
First record for Florida.
*Emblemarlopsis diophana Longley, GLASS BLENNY, occasional, UMML.
*Enneanectes altivells Rosenblatt, LOFTY BLENNY, common, UMML.
First record for Florida.
*Enneonectes boehlkel Rosenblatt, BO HLKE 'S BLENNY, frequent, UMML.
*Enneanectes pectoralis (Fowier), REDEYE BLENNY, frequent, UMNML.
*Hemlemblemaria simulus Longley and Hildebrand, WRASSE BLENNY, frecuent,
UMML.
*Labrlsomus bucciferus (Poey), FRECKLECHEEK BLENNY, rare, UMML.
First record for Florida.
*Labrlsomus goblo (Valenciennes), PALEHEAD BLENNY, rare, UMML.
First record for Florida.
*Labrlsomus guppyl (Norman), MIMIC BLENNY, frequent, UMML.
*Labr.lsomus hatlensis Beebe and Tee-Van, HATIAN BLENNY, common, UMN'L.
Not listed by Balley et al. (1960) but Included-for Florida by Langley and
Hlldebrand (1941), Briggs (1958), and Springer (1958).
*Lobrlsomus kallsherae (Jordan), DOWNY BLENNY, frequent, UMML.
*Labrlsomus nigrlclnctus Howell Rivero, SPOTCHEEK BLENNY, occasional,
UMML.
*Labrisomus nuchipinnis (Quoy and Galmard), HAIRY BLENNY, common, UMML.
*Moalococtenus aurollneatus Smith, ORANGELINE BLENNY, occasional, UMML.
Not listed by Bailey et al. (1960) but recorded from Florida by Springer
(1958). Malacoctenus sp. of Briggs (1958) is possibly this species.
*Molococtenus macropus (Poey), ROSY BLENNY, frequent, UMML.
*Molacoctenus triangulatus Sprlnger, SA'DDLED BLENNY, common, UMML.
+Paraclinus fasclatus (Stelndochner), BANDED BLENNY, abundant, UMML.
*Paraclinus grandlcomls (Rosen), HORNED BLENNY, occasional, UMML.
*Parocllnus Infrons Bbhlke, LONGNOSE BLENNY, rare, UMML. First
record for Florida.
+Poraclinus marmoratus (Stelndachner), MARBLED BLENNY, occasional,
UMML.
*Poarcllnus nigrlplnnls (Stelndachner), BLACKFIN BLENNY, abundant, UMML.
*Starksia ocellota (Stelndachner), CHECKERED BLENNY, common, UMML.

30
*Stathmonotus hemphllll Bean, CLOWN BLENNY, occasional, UMML.
BLENNIIDAE - COMBTOOTH BLENNIES
+Blennius crIstatus Llnnaeus, MCLLY MILLER, abundant Inshore, occasional
reef, UMML.
*Blennius marmoreus Poey, SEAWEED BLENNY, common, UMML.
+Entomocrodus textilus (Quoy and Galmard), PEARL BLENNY, common, UMML.
*Hypleurochillus bermudensis Beebe and Tee-Van, BARRED BLENNY, common,
UMML.
*Ophloblennius atlaontcus (Valenclennes), REDLIP BLENNY, common, UMML.
BROTULIDAE - BROTULAS
+Brotula barbato (Bloch and Schneider), BEARDED BROTULA, rare, UMML.
*Ogllbla cayorum Evermann and Kendall, KEY BROTULA, common, UMML.
It Is generally accepted among systematists that a number of species are
now classified under this name. The Identification Is, therefore, tentative
and it is probable that more than one species is found at Alligator Reef.
*Oligopus cloudel (Torre), REEF BROTULA, rare, UMML. First record for
Florida.
*Petrotyx sangulneus (Meek and Hildebrand), RUDDY 3ROTULA, frequent, UMML.
First record for Florida.
*Stygnobrotula latebricolo B5hlke, BLACK BROTULA, rare, UMML. FIrst
record for Florida.
OPHIIDAE - CUSK-EELS
+Lepophidium Jeannae Fowler, MOTTLED CUSK-EEL, rare, UMML.
+OphidIon holbrooki (Put nam), BANK CUSK-EEL, occaslonal, UMML.
+Ophidion selenops Robins and Bhlike, MOONEYE CUSK-EEL, occasional,
UMML.
*Otophidion dormitator Bbhlke and Robins, GHOST CUSK-EEL, occasional,
UMML. First record for FlorIda.
*Parophidlon schmidtl (Woods and Kanazawa), GRASS CUSK-EEL, frequent,
UMML. First record for Florida.
CARAPIDAE - PEARLFISHES
*Carapus bermudensis (Jones), PEARLFISH, frequent, UMML.
STROMAETEIDAE - BUTTERFISHES
Ariomma regulus (Poey), SPOTTED DRIFTFISH, rare, offshore, UMML.
Nomeus gronowi (Gmelln), MAN-O-WAR FISH, frequent, UMML.
Paollinurichthys perciformls (Mitchill), BARRELFISH, rare, offshore.
Psenes cyanophrys Cuvler, FRECKLED DRIFTFISH, occasional, offshore,
UMML.
Psenes moculatus Letken, SILVER DRIFTFISH, occasional, offshore, UMML.
SPHYRAENIDAE - BARRACUDAS 4
*Sphyraena barracuda (Walbaum), GREAT BARRACUDA, common, UMML.
+Sphyraena borealIs DeKay, NORTHERN BARRACUDA, frequent, UMML.
This common name differs from that of Bailey et ol. (1960) In accordance
with general usage.
MUGILIDAE - MULLETS
Mugll cephalus Llnnaeus, STRIPED OR BLACK MULLET, common, Inshore.
Mugll curema Valenciennes, WHITE MULLET, frequent, Inshore.

31
Mugll galmardlaon Desmarest, REDEYE MULL ET, occasional, Inshore.
MuglI trichodon Poey, FANTAIL MULLET, abundant, Inshore, UMM'L.
ATHERINIDAE - SILVERSIDES

+Alianetta harrncintonensls (Goode), REEF SILVERSIDE, common, UMML.
+,Atherinomorus stipes (Md~l ler and Troschei, HARDHEAD SILVERSIDE,
common, UMML.
BOTHIDAE - LEFTEYE FLOUNDERS
Ancylopsetta dillecta (Goode at-d Bean), THREE-EYE FLOUNDER, offshore,
UMML.
*Bothus ocellatus (Agasslz), EYED FLOUNDER, common, UMML.
Clthanlchthys arctifrons Goode, GULF STREAM FLOUNDER, abundant, off-
shore, UMML.
Cltharlchthys cornutus (Gt~nther), HORNED WHIFF, abundant, offshore,
UMML.
+Cltharlchthys macraps Dresel, SPOTTED WHIFF, occasional, UMML.
ftClthorlchthys sp., rare, UMML. An unidlentif led species close to C. cornutus,
possibly undescribed.
+Cyclopsett~a f imbriata (Goode and Bean), SPOTFIN FLOUNDER, occasional,
UMML.
+Syaclum gunteri Ginsburg, CHANNEL FLOUNDER, occasional, UMML.
+Syaclum papillosum (Linnaeus), DUSKY FLOUNDER, common, UIVML.

SOLEIDAE - SOLES
+~Achirugs lineatus (Linnaeus), LINED SOLE, rare, UMML.
+Trinectes maculatus (Bloch and Schneider), HOGCHOKER, rare, UMIML.
CYNOGLOSSIDAE - TONGUEFISHES
*Symphurus arawak Robins and RandallI, CARIBBEAN TONGUEFISH, rare,
UMML. First record for Florida.
+Symphurus diomedianus (Goode and Bean), SPOTTEDFIN TONGUEFISH,
occasional, UMML.
ECHENEIDAE - REMORAS
+Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus, SHARKSUCKER, common, UMML.
+Echeneis neucratoides Zuieuw, WHITEFIN SHARKSUCKER, rare, UMML.
PhtheIrIchthys lineatus (Menzies), SLENDER SUCKERFISH, rare, offshore,
UMML.
Remora brachyptera (Lowe), SPEARFISH REMORA, rare, offshore, UMML.
Remora osteochir (Cuvier), MARLINSUCKER, frequent, offshore, UMVML.
GOBIESOCIDAE - CLINGFISHES

+Acyrtops beryl linus (Hi Idebrand and Ginsburg), EMERALD CLINGFISH,
occasional, UMML.
+Gobe--.xstruos Cope, SKILLETFISH, occasional, UtAML.
TRIACANTHODIDAE - SPIKEFISHES

Parahollardia llneato (Langley), JAMBEAU, rare, offshore, UMML.

BALISTIDAE - TRIGGERFISHES AND FILEFISHES

Alluteramonoceros (Linnaeus), UNICORN FILEFISH, rare, offshore, UMI4v1L.
*Alutera schoepflI (Waibaum), ORANGE FILEFISH, common, UMML.
*A7iutera scripta (Osbeck), SCRAWLED FILEFISH, occasional, UMVML.
+BaI istes capriscus Gmel in, GRAY. TRIGGERFISH, common, UMML.

32
*Baiistes vetula Llnnoeus, QUEEN TRIGGERFISH, occasional.
.*Ca-ntherlnes m~acrocerus (Hol lard), HOOKTAIL FILEFISH, rare.
*Cantherlnes pullus (Ranzani), ORANGESPOTTED FILEFISH, frequent, UMML.
+.Canthidermis sufflamen (Mitchill), OCEAN TALLY, common, UMML. This
name differs from that of Bailey et al. (1960) In accordance with common
usage.
+-Monacanthus cliliatus (Mitchili), FRINGED FILEFISH, common, UMML.
+iMonacanthus hIspi dus (L innaeus), PLANEHEAD FILE FISH, frequent, UMML.
+Monacanthus setifer Bennett, PYGMY FILEFISH, occasional, UMML.
*Monacanthus tuckerl Bean, SLENDER FILEFISH, common, UMML.
OSTRACIIDAE -TRUNKFISHES
+Acanthastraclon quadrlcornis (Linnaeus), COWFISH, common, UMVML.
*Lactophrys bicaUdails (Linnaeus), SPOTTED TRUNKFISH, frequent, UMML.
+Lactophrys trg-o-nu-s (i-nnaeus), TRUNKFISH, occasional, UMML.
*Lactophrys tr-iquete~r (Linnaeus), SMOOTH TRUNKFISH, common, UMML.
TETRADONTIDAE - PUFFERS
*Canthlgaster rostrata (Bioch), SHARPNOSE PUFFER, common, UMML.
+Sphaeroide~s spengieri (Bioch), BANDTAIL PUFFER, frequent, UMML.
DIODONTIDAE - PORCUPINEFISHES
*Chilomycterus antennatus (Cuvier), BRIDLED BURRFISH, frequent, UMML.
Included by Bailey et al. (1960) but not previously recorded.
*Chilomycterus atinga (fLin-eus), SPOTTED BURRFISH, frequent, UMML.
+Chilomycterus schoepf I(Waibaum), SPINY BOXFISH, frequent, UMML. This
common name differs from that of Bailey et al. (1960) In accordance with
common usage.
*Diodon hoiacanthus Linnaeus, BALLOONFISH, frequent, UMML.
*Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, PORCUPINEFISH, frequent, UMML.
MOLIDAE - MOLAS
Mole lanceolata Lienard, SHARPTAIL MOLA, rare, offshore.
Moba mola (Linnaeus), OCEAN SUNFISH, rare, offshore.
BATRACHI-1DIDAE - TOADFISHES
Opsanus beta (Goode and Bean), GULF TOADFISH, abundant, inshore.
Porichthys porosissImus (Valenciennes), MIDSHIPMAN, frequent, offshore,
UMML.
LOPHIIDAE - GOOSEFISHES
Lophius omericanus Valencilennes, GOOSEFISH, occasional, 1ofhr, UMML.
Genus sp. , an undescribed genus and species, rare, offshore, UJAv1L.
ANTENNARIIDAE - FROGFISHES
+Antennarius ocel lotus (Bloch and Schneider), OOELLATED FROGFISH-,
occasional, UMML.
+Antennarius pauclradlcrtus Schultz, DWARF FROGFISH, occasional, UMML.
Not Included by Bailey et 21. (1960) but described by Schultz (1957) from
Florida.
*Antennorlus scober (Cuvier), SPLITLURE FROGFISH, ro're, UMM~L.
Histrio histrio (Linnaeus), SARAGASSUMFISH, frequent, offshore.

OGCCCEPHALIDAE - BATFISHES

+Hai ieutichthys aculeotus (MItchi ii), PANCAKE BATFISH, abundant, offshore,
occasional reef, UMML. The common name spiny batfish of Bai ley eta!1.
(1960) Is Inappropriate as this species In one of the least spiny of the
family.
+Ogcocepha lus cubifrons (Rilchardson), POLKA-DOT BATEFIS H, occasional,
UMML.
Ogcocepholus-nasutus (Valenciennes), SHORTNOSE BATFISH, rare, off-
shore, UMML.
+Ogcocephalus parvus Langley and Hildebrand, ROUGHBACK BATFISH,
common offshor~e, occasional reef, UMML.
+Ogcocepholus vespertillo (Linnaeus), LONGNOSE BATFISH, frequent off-
shore, rare reef, UMML.
Zalleutes mcqlnty (Fowler), TRICORN BATFISH, frequent offshore, UMML.

Basic Plant and Animal Communities

The plant and animal communities of the Biscayne National Monument
area are extremely rich and varied. The following discussion is limit-
ed to the dominant communities of the area. To list the species of
plants and animals found in each community would be superfluous in view
of the extended list of animals and plants found in the last section of
this report. To use the list of animals and plants for community or
ecological purposes, one should refer to the key to the zonations and
ecological habitats given at the first of the list. In the following
discussions, the general code number from the extended list has been put
in parentheses after the headings in order that the interested reader
may refer easily to these lists.

The plant and animal communities of the marine environment within
the monument waters have been described in part by Stephenson and Steph-
enson (1950) and Voss and Voss (1955), and for details of many of these
communities, these papers should be consulted. Stephenson and Stephenson
worked partly within the monument area and there are many direct refer-
ences to Elliott Key and Old Rhodes Key. Voss and Voss did their report
upon the nearby Soldier Key, separated from the Biscayne Monument waters
by a few miles of flats and coral areas. These papers deal with the
intertidal area, the reef flat and the reef tract itself. For a com-
prehensive review of the infauna bottom communities of the mid-portion
of the bay, the papers by H. Moore and his colleagues should be consulted
(McNulty, J. Kneeland, Robert C. Work, and Hilary B. Moore, 1962). These
community assemblages should be found in the level bottom on the bay side
of the monument.

1. Thalassia community (Code 3).

Within the bay, the most important community is that of the turtle
grass. The turtle grass community is composed of turtle grass (Thalassia
testudinum), the manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme) and Diplanthera
wrightii. These grasses form dense mats on the bottom, their rhizomes
forming a thick mass penetrating the bottom for eighteen inches or more.
Their leaves greatly increase the available surface for the attachment of
various species of filamentous algae (Humm, 1964) diatoms, foraminifera,
and various bivalve mollusks. The long leaves also function as a sedi-
ment trap and assist thus in maintaining water clarity. D. Moore and
Work (unpublished) made a detailed study of the Thalassia community o-ver
a three year period and concluded that it supported the richest assemb-
lage in species and number of individuals, of any known marine commun-
ity. The productivity of this community is very high (see Jones, 1968)
and it is the known nursery ground for the early stages of the commer-
cial shrimps of the genus Penaeus, and the crawfish, Panulirus, as well
as many species of shore fishes. The main predator is the sea urchin,
Lytechinus variegatus, and certain of the parrot fishes in the vicinity
of lagoon patch reefs. On the borders of the Thalassia community, sever-
al algae make inroads: Penicillus, Halimeda and Laurencia.

- 11 -

*. Bay hard bottom community (Code 9d).

Much of the deeper portion of the bay and the eastern shore against
the keys is composed of a soft, calcium carbonate sediment overlaying
the rock substrate. This calcium sand is in places very shallow and the
whole region must be classed as hard bottom.

The most conspicuous growth forms in this region are the various
sponges, especially Hippiospongia gossypina, H. lachne, Spongia barbara,
S. cheiris, and S. graminia, (all commercial sponges), the loggerhead
sponge, Spheciospongia vesparia, and the vase sponge Ircinia campana;
the corals, Porites porites, Siderastrea siderea, S. radians and
Solenastrea hyades, and the sea feathers of the genus Plexaurella
and Pterogorgia anceps. This is not an area of high productivity and
most of the enrichment is gained from the adjacent Thalassia beds and man-
grove fringe. A considerable number of organisms live within the canals
of the sponges varying in size from the large worm Eunice spongicola
to thousands of snapping shrimp. The nature of these relationships
has not as yet been studied. This area is important in the life hist-
ories of the crawfish Panulirus and is one of the major habitats for
the stone crab, Menippe mercenaria.

3. ManRrove community (Code 8).

Next to the Thalassia community, this is one of the most import-
ant areas in tropical waters due to 1) its stabilization of the shore
line, 2) filtering of land runoff and 3) the contribution to the organic
nutrients through its leaf fall and associated organisms. This com-
munity is characterized by the three mangroves: red mangrove (Rhizophora
mangle), black mangrove (Avicennia nitida) and the white mangrove
(Laguncularia racemosa). Associated with these but more landward is
the buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus). The plant communities of this
area have been described by J. H. Davis (1940, 1942) and Craighead
(1964) has discussed their relationship to land building and the effect.
on them of hurricanes.

On the bay side of the keys, the mangroves attain their maximum
development in the monument. The most conspicuous organisms related
to the mangrove community are those attached to the mangrove root props,
'trunks and pneumatophores. These often double the diameter of the root
props themselves. These consist of the alga Bostrychia, numerous hydroids,
such as Lytocarpus philippinus, encrusting sponges, coon or mangrove oy-
sters Crassostrea rhizophorae, the pearl oyster Pinctada radiata, several
species of barnacles, the snails Littorina angulifera and Tectarius
muricatus, several species of small climbing crabs of the genus PachyRrapsus,
the sea roach Ligia baudiniana and occasional sea urchins. Beneath the
mangroves in the intertidal zone or just above can be found the gastropods
Melampus, Detracia, and Truncatella and hunting in this area but living
above the high tide mark, the large land crabsUcides, Cardisoma and
Gecarcinus.

- 12 -

4. The supralittoral and intertidal.

The east side of the keys is,mainly rocky in the intertidal and has
been well studied in regards to its ecological zonations by Stephenson
and Stephenson (1950) and Voss and Voss (1955). The Stephensons divided
this region into the upper platform (from the line of land vegetation to
the sea edge(?)), and the lower platform which extended from this out to
the reef flat. These areas were further subdivided into color zones
based upon exposure, weathering, algal mats and other factors. From the
land out, these were -- upper platform (white, grey, black and yellow);
lower platform (no color zones given). Voss and Voss in their study of
Soldier Key did not use this color zonation but divided the intertidal
into upper platform, platform face, and lower platform, features that
can be seen easily in most seaward areas in the monument.

Upper platform.

White zone. -- This is the actual meetingplace of land and sea. It
is bleached white by salt spray and no fully marine animals or marine
plants live in it. Animals present are: the hermit Coenobita, the isopod
Ligia, two crabs Sesarma and Cyclograpsus, and the snails Tectarius,
Truncatella and Detracia.

Grey zone. -- This lies between the white and the black zones. Plants
are: Sesuvium, Batis, Salicornia and others. The animals are: Littorina
ziczac, Tectarius muricatus and tuberculosus, Echininus nodulosus, Nerita
peleronta and N. versicolor (all gastropods), and the aforementioned crabs
as well as the other organisms mentioned above.

Black zone. -- This zone is wetted at high water spring. Its black
color is derived from the coloring effects of certain blue-green algae
Entophysalis and Brachytrichia, and the dry mats of the alga Bostrychia.
Animals in this zone are most of those mentioned above with the addition
of Planaxis lineatus, a snail and the common snail Batillaria minima
which may occur in vast mats.

Platform face (yellow zone) (Code 2).

The platform face is occupied by the yellow zone which is the true
intertidal zone of the inshore. The characteristic color is given by the
wet mats of algae, primarily such forms as Anadyomene stellata,
Cladophoropsis membranacea, Catanella repens, Centroceras clavulatum
Ceramium fastigiatum, Polysiphonia howei. Higher up, Bostrychia and
Valonia are dominant. All of these algaeform dense mats that offer
refuge to numerous small animals.

The animals within the yellow zone are too numerous to list here
but include numerous specimens of the barnacles Chthamalus stellatus and
Tetraclita squamosa, the vermetid mollusk Spiroglyphus, the false limpet
Siphonaria pectinata and alternata, various fissurellids, especially
Diadora listeri, the snails Batillaria minima, Thais rustica, Cantharus
tinctus, the true limpet Acmaea and the slug Onchidium floridanum. The

- 13 -

large chiton,. Acanthopleura granulata, is common along with the mussel
Mytilus exustus and the oysters Isognomon alata and I. chemitziana.
Numerous other animals are found in this zone. They are listed in the
species lists.

5. Shallow water.

Lower platform (Code 2)

The lower platform is difficult to separate from the so-called
reef flat. It begins at the bottom of the platform face. It is often
distinguished by the somewhat steeper slope, very rough eroded stone
floor, and the presence of most of the area of the yellowish-green
carpet of Laurencia papillosa and associated green and red algae. Dom-
inant in many places in holes in the rock is the sea urchin Echinometra
lucunter, the mussels Arca barbata and A. umbonata. Several anemones
are found here, Phymanthus crucifer, Aiptasia annulata and Condylactis
gigantea. Many species of crabs are found under rocks in this area.
For a more complete listing, see the species list.

Reef flat (Code 5, 9, 10)

This is a general term that takes in the entire area east of the
keys except the reef itself. Distinct communities have not been recog-
nized in that area except for the extensive Thalassia community already
mentioned, and the lagoon patch reefs and the outer reef. These will be
treated separately.

6. Lagoon patch reef (Code 7).

One of the most prominent features found within the Hawk Channel
is the lagoon patch reef. These are found around Bache Shoal, Margot
Fish Shoal, and back of Triumph Reef, Long Reef and Ajax Reef. These
reefs have been studied in detail by Voss and Bayer (1968), Jones (1963),
and Ebbs (1966).

Commonly, the patch reef is a structure formed of living masses of
coral heads rising directly from the bottom in 10-20 feet of water. They
have nearly perpendicular sides and rise to within two or three feet of
the surface. The bottom around them is usually flat and covered with
Thalassia except for a ring, several yards wide, of clear sand caused
by the grazing of parrot fishes. The patch reefs in the monument area
range in size from individual coral heads to masses several hundred feet
across.

The mass of the reef is made up of corals, primarily Diploria,
Eusmilia, Isophyllia, Montastrea, Porites and Siderastrea, with associ-
ated Acropora cervicornis, Agaricia, Dichocenia, and others. These
corals are usually compacted and often filled in between wi'th coral
rubble forming a reef top on which grow a profusion of sea feathers,
whips and fans, of which the genera Eunicea, Muricea, Plexaura,

- 14 -

Pseudopterogorgia, and Gorgonia are the most cormmon. In these
patch reefs mollusks are not comnon except for the stubby coral shell
Coralliophila abbreviata and its relatives, and a few cowries
(Cypraea) and smaller forms. The crawfish or spiny lobster,
Panul rus, is common.

The main body of these patch reefs is often soluted away by
the waves' action and sea water to form caverns and chambers which
are filled with a large number and variety of reef fishes. These
are not obvious on first examination for during the day most of them
will be within the reef. In fact, these reefs support a dual popu-
lation of fishes, day feeders and night feeders. These are reported
upon by Starck (1968), Randall (1968) and Voss and Bayer (1968).

7. Outer reef. (Code 6).

The outer reefs consist of those coral reefs or dead coral
reef jumble lying on the outer edge of the reef platform immediately
adjacent to the drop-off into deep water and the Florida Current.
These reefs have been well described by Ginsburg and Goreau (the
latter not listed as the work-was done in Jamaica) and the various
reef types are well known.

Two main outer reef types occur in the monument waters, Long
Reef and Ajax Reef. Long Reef is a low, long, shallow structure formed
by loose, coral rock and sheets of dead Acropora. Within this reef
structure and beneath the rock slab exixts a wealth of marine life far
too numerous to list here. A comprehensive listing of these species
is found in the species list. Ajax Reef is a live coral reef largely
made up of living Millepora colonies. The invertebrate life is not
rich but numerous fish species are found. For a good description of
this type of reef, see Starck (1968) who reported upon a similar struc-
ture at Alligator Reef.

- 15 -

Appendix B

Bottom community Chart.

Past workers (e.g., Kumpf and Randall, 1961: Macintyre, 1968)
have had moderate success making simple bottom community charts of
the major faunal elements in limited geographical areas. We have
attempted to make a similar chart covering the entire area of the
proposed Biscayne National Manument. Of necessity, the resultant
chart is to a very large extent a simplified generalization. In those
areas where sharp boundaries occur between major bottom types, such as
along the eastward side of the monument, the chart rather accurately
portrays the natural situation. But in many~ areas, such as Biscayne
Bay itself, the bottom types gradually grade from one into another,
or two or more types may occur intermixed over large regions. in such
cases, the limits portrayed are largely arbitrary. In reality, the
environment is much more complex than can be shown on any chart or
map. In particular, the increased complexity resulting from (1) the
much larger area considered, (2) the involved interactions between the
sea-land areas,- and (3) the semi-closed system of Biscayne Bay itself,
has created conditions that do not permit the precise delimitation of
faunal boundaries commonly expected of a community chart.

Southern Biscayne Bay, the portion of the bay incorporated into
Biscayne Mational Monument, is a large shallow estuary bounded on the
north by the shallow Featherbed Banks, to the south by Cutter Bank, to
the east by the chain of islands from the Ragged Keys to Old Rhodes Key
and to the west and southwest by the m~ainland toast. Water circula-
tion is somewhat restricted by the land masses. Flushing occurs through
a number of deep channels or cuts directly to the ocean (eastward), to
north Biscayne Bay and to Card Sound on the south; the primary cause of
the water exchange is tidal flushing.

In conjunction with the restricted circulation., the southern part
of Biscayne Bay is subject to a variable input of fresh wate-r from many
drainage canals along the mainland and subsurface fresh water percolation
(Kohout and Kolipinsky, 1964, and personal observations).

These conditions cause extremes of temperature and salinity - - both
high and low -- not found in the oceanic environment., They also contrib-
ute to the complexity of the bottom communities within the Bay. In addi-
tion, the bottom of the Bay itself is of primary importance in determin-
ing the faunal make-up. The Bay is underlain by a limestone rock bottom
that is generally covered by small but varying depths of sand or silt.
Even small'changes in thickness of sediment influence the bottom commun-
ities immensely, with the marine grasses (primarily Thalassia testudinum)
-and certain algae (e.g., Penicillus) dominating regions of thick sediment
(e.g. 10 cm. or greater), and sponges, alcyonarians, and other algae dom-
inating regions of thin or no sediment.

Because of the diversity of conditions in Biscayne Bay, the bottom
communities are diverse and their interrelationships complex. Eight dif-
ferent environmental types are disti'nguished on the chart. (1) marine

-16-

grasses; (2) algae; (3) sand; (4) sponges and alcyonarians; (5) bare
rock; (6) corals; (7) coral rubble; and (8) mangrove.

The dominant bottom community throughout the monument is that char-
acterized by the marine grasses. Thalassia testudinum is the most common
component, but it is replaced by or found mixed with Syringodium filiforme
in the deeper waters and Diplanthera wrightii in shallower regions. The
Thalassia community actually can be further divided into separate sub-
communities. In some regions, especially the area east of the chain of
islands, dense beds of almost pure grasses dominate. In other regions
the grasses grow less thickly, and the bottom is greatly worked over by
burrowing polychaetes. Algae can invade the grass beds to a varying
extent: Penicillus and Halimeda are two common forms, and Laurencia first
mixes with, then replaces the grasses along the western shore of the Bay.
The chart makes no attempt to separate the different species of marine
grass, nor does it indicate the concentration of the grasses.

Although some algae (Penicillus and Halimeda) are found in deeper
(10 m) waters mixed in with the grasses, the algae as a dominant bottom
community are restricted to shallow waters. They occur primarily in belts
immediately surrounding the shore of the mainland and the islands, al-
though Laurencia is the dominant cover over a large segment of the south-
west section of Biscayne Bay.

The regions indicated by sand likewise include more than a single
type of bottom community. In the area to the east of the islands, be-
tween the thick Thalassia beds and the outer coral reefs, a region of
isolated sand patches occurs. These range in size from quite small (a
few meters) to several kilometers in length. They are quite clearly
defined by a sharp, usually undercut border between the sand and the
grasses. Generally no vegetation occurs in these sand patches. The
sand is a fairly coarse, calcareous sand. In contrast, regions within
the Bay that are similarly designated on the chart are not so clearly
defined; their delimitation has necessarily been arbitrary, because of
their indistinct boundaries. Actually Thalassia is found in varying
densities, over almost the entire bay floor. It is concentrated in
discrete dense patches, which are often distributed in irregular lines,
and is found in sparse growth over the remainder of the bottom. There
is an even continuum from dense Thalassia growths to the sparsest re-
gions, and the line delimiting a predominantly sandy area from a pre-
dominantly grassy one is indeed arbitrary, although the authors believe,
in view of the great differences between the types of bottom, that the
distinction should be made. In addition to grass, the sandy areas of
the Bay also contain many sparse patches of sponges and alcyonarians;
again the delimitation is an arbitrary one.

A third type of sandy area, not shown on the chart, is a sandy halo
surrounding the many coral patches in the zone to the east of the islands.
This halo is a narrow belt of sand that surrounds virtually every patch
reef and is considered to be the result of grazing by reef fauna.

-17-

Sponges and alcyonarians are fcund widespread over much of the
monument area. Dense stands occur in the cuts between the islands,
where swift currents flow. Sparse growths are found around the islands
themselves and throughout the Bay as well. Sponges and alcyonarians,
especially the latter, are also important components of the coral patches
in the zone to the east of the islands; in this community they are in-
cluded in the symbol for corals, and are not marked separately.

Patches of the limestone base emerge as bare rocks in some regions,
primarily in the surf zone around the islands. In addition to support-
ing a distinct community, these regions are noteworthy because the rock
is greatly eroded and pitted by solution, forming a very sharp, hard
substrate that should be avoided by waders and boaters.

Although some corals (e.g., Porites, Manicina, and Siderastrea are
scattered throughout the monument area, large coral patches are found
in only in two zones. Seaward of the dense Thalassia zone to the east
of the islands is an area of dense but discrete coral patch reefs. In
addition to large coral heads, these patch reefs also include dense
growths of alcyonarians and'sponges. Some of the patches, especially
in the Margot Fish Shoals, contain large patches of Acropora cervicornis,
but this is not really widespread. The patch reefs are scattered through-
out a matrix of rather dense Thalassia; they do not form a solid bottom
cover.

A zone of outer reefs is located still farther to the east. This is
largely an area of dead reefs (indicated by coral rubble) although there
is some living coral in this region. Only in the southern end of the
outer reef -- around Pacific Light -- do large, luxuriant growths of
corals, primarily Acropora palmata, occur.

Finally, in many regions around the islands and along the mainland,
mangroves extend for varying distances into the water. This is a dis-
tinctive community subject to rather sharp delineation and therefore
portrayed accurately on the chart.

Considering all of the zones, the following can be summarized:
generally, proceeding from the shore (either mainland or islands) seaward,
one passes from either mangroves or bare'rocky coast successively through
an algal zone, a sparse alcyonarian-sponge zone, and a marine grass zone.
The relative extents of these zones are influenced at least partially by
depth, bottom type, and salinity. Finally, east of the islands, a coral
patch reef zone, a sand patch zone, and a barrier reef coral rubble zone
are encountered. The dominant feature of the Bay itself is the large
central sand zone with scattered Thalassia, alcyonarians, and sponges.
The most prominent features outside the Bay are the dense beds of
Thalassia and secondarily the coral patch zone.

- 18 -

Appendix B

Seasonal Abundance and Migratory Patterns of Marine Life.

Tropical waters do not have a great seasonal range of temperature
and as a result there are few evident seasonal migrations or movements
of the fauna. Those migrations that do take place are usually feeding
migrations involved in the life history of the species. A few of the
larger, more active long-ranging swimmers do show seasonal changes.
These will be mentioned below. In general among many of the tropical
fishes and invertebrates, spawning is not restricted to a few days or
a week or two as in temperate regions but may take place over a period
of several months or even throughout the year. As a result, great in-
creases in seasonal abundance are not generally seen. Long-term spawn-
ing periods alto are important for management practices, in that distinct
year classes are not common in tropical forms, and adverse weather con-
ditions do not noticeably affect the year's production of young.

Plants. The life histories of few of the marine plants of the region
are known. Because of the rather small seasonal variation in water
temperature, and especially the lack of any period of extreme low temp-
erature, there is typically no period in the year when the majority of
adult marine plants disappear. However, some types of algae, for ex-
ample, the various species of Caulerpa, may show periods of flourish-
ing vegetative growth as well as periods of inactivity when outward
signs of the vegetative plants regress or even vanish. Such individual
seasonal responses, however, have lit-tle effect upon the appearance of
the marine flora.

The most prominent seasonal change in the plants is seen in
Thalassia, which may suffer heavy loss of leaves during the brief
periods of winter low and summer high temperatures. This marine grass
and the larger green, red and brown algae may be covered over by a mat-
like growth of blue-green algae during the summer in semi-stagnant
areas.

Invertebrates. There is little change in seasonal abundance of most
invertebrates and these are minor. Only a few cases of seasonal migra-
tion are known.

1. There is some change in the abundance of Octopus. In general, adult
octopus move offshore during the summer into waters of 15-30 ft. depths,
but in winter and spring they come inshore to spawn and to find warm
water. Most species are common ini depths of less than 10 ft. during
the period from March to May when they are caring for their eggs under
old coral heads and rock slabs.

2. Lower Biscayne Bay and Card Sound are important nursery grounds for
the pink shrimp, Penaeus duorarum Burkenroad. Spawning takes place in
deep water offshore. The larval shrimp begin to appear in the Bay in
quantity in March where they live in shallow water of 2 ft. depth or less.
They grow rapidly in this nursery ground and by September they have
reached a fairly large size and have moved out into the Bay into waters

-19-

deepez than 3 ft. where they are fished for in the bait shrimp fishery.
These shrimp remain in the Bay as juveniles where they attain a consid-
erable size. However, no adult gravid shrimp have been taken in the Bay.
About the end of December, depending upon weather conditions and moon
phase, the juvenile shrimp.move out of the Bay into the ocean. Accord-
ing to recent studies, this movement in the main is northward in the Bay
and the majority of the shrimp pass out through Cape Florida Channel,
Bear Cut and Government Cut. Despite these migrations, there are always
juvenile shrimp in the Bay, to the extent that the bait shrimp fishery
flourishes. For some reason not now understood, there is a migration
into the Bay of the Caribbean Brown shrimp (Penaeus brasiliensis) in the
summer when, for several months, it accounts for up to 40 per cent of
the bait catch. It is not found in the Bay during the rest of the year.

3. The spiny lobster, mainly Panulirus argus Latreille, also performs
a general growth movement. The larvae hatch out as phyllosomas.and re-
main drifting passively in the plankton for up to 5-6 months. After
metamorphosis, the very young juvenile spiny lobsters are found in the
grass beds in shallow water in the Bay, especially on the western side
and on the east side of the Keys. With about /3-L/2 growth they are found
in deeper water in the Bay living under sponges, particularly the logger-
head sponge Spheciospongia vesparia. As adults they are found in water
of four feet or greater depth, living in rocky holes, under rocky or
coral ledges, and various other sheltered situations. At certain times
and places, particularly along the open ocean beach, spiny lobsters
perform long mass migrations. Neither the cause, time nor duration are
known. No such mass migrations have so' far been reported from the monu-
ment region.

Fishes. There is extensive movement of fishes within the Park area,
much of which can be termed migration. Migrations are of three main
types: 1) daily, 2) seasonal, 3)ontogenetic. Daily migrations are
practiced by many of the so-called reef fishes and are usually associated
with nocturnal feeding activities in the grass;beds and open sand areas.
Most grunts (Pomadasyidae) and snappers (Lutjanidae) which account for
much of the mass of fishes to be found on the reefs by day undergo such
migrations.

Seasonal migrations are of two types. One is associated with spawn-
ing and mostly consists of estuarine, bay and reef species that move off-
shore to spawn. The time and length of the spawning season varies with the
species. The American eel moves on particular moon phases especially in
the December and March season. Worm eels move again during particular
moon phases most every month. Other notable migrants of this type within
the park are the mullets (especially in November and December), the jack-
knife fish, the black grouper (probably all groupers).

The second group of seasonal migrants are fall and winter visitors
from the north. Most important here are the smooth hammerhead, the black-
tip shark, certain rays and the bluefish.

Ontogenetic migrants are those that spend their juvenile life within
the area, moving with growth into offshore waters or at least to a differ-

- 20 -

ent habitat within the Park.

Jackknife fish --Young on the deep reef, adults in the Bay and
mangroves:
King mackerel --Young in the Bay and grassy areas, adults
oceanic.

Grey snapper --Young in grass beds, adults on outer reefs
and in passes.

Striped mojarra -- Larvae oceanic, juveniles along the shore,
adult estuarine.

The larvae of many but not all shore and reef fishes are oceanic.
-Life histories of only a few are known in detail. In somespawning
takes place in'shore waters with the eggs being swept out to sea. In
others, hatching also occurs in inshore waters with the early larvae
going to sea while in others the adults move offshore to spawn.

Of the many fish species known within the monument, only certain
reef species spend their entire life in a single environment. Of all
phases of study needed on monument fishes, none ts more deserving from
a resource management standpoint than basic life history studies.

--21-

Appendix C

The Florida Keys form a crescentic chain of small limestone islands
which extend from near Miami in the north to, and including, Key West on
the south and west, a total of about 150 miles. They form an arc bounded
on the convex side by the Florida Current and on the concave side by Bis-
cayne'Bay, Florida Bay and adjoining waters. Basically they are made up
of two main formations of Pleistocene age -- the Key Largo Limestone and
the Miami Limestone. The former is an elevated coral reef rock and the
latter an oBlitic limestone. The Key Largo.Limestone is the surface rock
of the upper Keys, and the Miami Limestone covers the Lower Keys. Actual-
ly, the Key Largo Limestone covers the entire 150 miles of the Florida
Keys but in the Lower Keys is overlain by the Miami Limestone beginning
near the east end of Big Pine Key.

The Key Largo Limestone first appears at the surface near its north-
ern boundary at Soldier Key just north of the Ragged Keys and forms the
basis of the main keys contained within the monument. It is especially
conspicuous as eroded ragged rock along the ocean side of the keys with
major outcrops at Caesar's Creek and Old Rhodes Channel. It also forms
the hard, smooth floor of several of the passes where the tidal current
keeps-sediments scoured away.

According to drillings investigated and/or made by Hoffmeister and
Multer, this limestone rests upon a quartzose calcareous sand base. The
limestone is of varying thickness; near the northern end of Key Largo it
was 145 feet thick, 10 miles further south 75 feet. In the lower Florida
Keys it attains a thickness of nearly 200 feet. It is typical organic
reef composed of.-in situ, wave resistant elements, the important of which
are hermatypic corals. These form the framework of the structure and are
responsible for the trapping of large amounts of calcarenite in which

-3-

they are now embedded. The formation is made up of these lithologic
types (in order of decreasing abundance): calcarenite, coralline lime-
stone, and calcilutite.

1. Calcarenite. This rock consists of varying amounts of molluscan
debris, Halimeda, coralline algae, foraminifera, bryozoans, coral
and rock fragments bounded by microcrystalline and sparry calcite.
Minor constituents include pellets, echinoid spines, sponge spic-
ules, ooliths and worm tubes.

2. Coralline limestone.' Large masses of coral, either in growth po-
sition or as detached fragments, recrystallized to calcite occur.
The principal corals are Montastrea annularis, Diploria strigosa,
D. clivosa, D. labyrinthiformis, and several species of Porites,
principally P. astreoides. This limestone can be porous or dense,
commonly with burrows of boring mollusks, the cavities often lined
with drusy calcite or filled with varying amounts of sand-size de-
bris. About 30 per cent of the Key Largo Limestone is made up of
this coral rock of which Montastrea makes up about half. Acropora
cervicornis, Montastrea cavernosa and Siderastrea radians are also
found in lesser amounts. All of these corals are found living to-
day within the monument boundaries.

3. Calcilutite. This dense rock made up of well-cemented silt-clay
carbonate commonly displays pinpoint-to finger-size holes. Limited
amounts of skeletal hash are often present.

The coral rock where exposed has a thin cap of very hard rock over-
laying it, formed either by aerial exposure or microbial activity. It
is extensively quarried for use in decorative walls and in floors and
patios in south Florida. In situ, below the hard cap, it is soft, and
well points pierce it easily. Upon lengthy exposure it becomes very hard
and durable. Quarries are found throughout the Keys.

The method of formation of the Keys themselves has been a matter of
controversy, some claiming that the present keys represent the limits of
a former outer coral reef of Pleistocene times, others claiming that they
were formed from lagoon patch reefs in the back-reef area when the outer
reef was located some distance inshore of its present position. Studies
by Hoffmeister and Multer (loc. cit.) point to the latter hypothesis.
They say:

"During the last interglacial period, about 95,000 years ago (Broeckel
and Thurber, 1965, pp. 58-60), the coral reefs which today make up the Key
Largo Limestone of the Florida Keys were flourishing as a line of patch
reefs in the back-reef area of a broad-reef platform similar to the Flor-
ida reef tract of today. Seaward of them the platform was occupied by
parallel lines of other patch reefs and edged by an outer reef (Fig. 2).

"Subsequent marine and subaerial erosion following the withdrawal of
the sea during the Wisconsin, possibly accompanied by a structural downwa:
tilting or faulting of the area, or both, resulted in the lowering of the

- 4 -

platform to a depth of about 75 feet at its seaward edge and progressive-
ly less farther inland. With the return of the sea, new reef growth be-
gan on the eroded platform and cbntinued to the present (Fig. 3).

"Some of the main observations upon which it is concluded that the
Key Largo Limestone of the Keys originated as a line of patch reef in a
back reef environment are the following. (1) The species of corals and
other organisms found fossil in the old reef are identical with those of
the living patch reefs. (2) There is an absence of Acropora palmata, a
coral species found commonly in the turbulent waters of living outer
reefs. (3) There is a favorable proportion of other species common in
all zones. (4) Since the community of coral species found in the Key
Largo requires an environment of low-level energy and since it was de-
termined that the water in which the corals grew was shallow, it becomes
clear that they must have developed in the protected area of a back reef
zone. (5) The discovery of Acropora palmata in the Key Largo Limestone,
underlying the more recent material of the outer reef, demonstrates its
presence at the time the Keys were being formed and indicates that its absence
in the rocks of the Keys is due to the unfavorable environment of a back reef.
Its presence also indicates the existance of an outer reef at the edge of
the platform during Key Largo time. (6) The elongated crescentic shape
of the Keys, running approximately parallel to the outer edge of the plat-
form, is similar to the alignment of present day patch reefs."

The soil of the Keys, overlying the Key Largo Limestone, is of organic
origin, originally from materials trapped in the outcroppings but now
mainly muck or humus from the hardwood hammocks and mangrove peat.

Offshore of the Keys, the bottom is underlain by Key Largo Limestone
with a layer of post-Pleistocene Key Largo Limestone overlying the older
rock and increasing in thickness seaward. Upon this is a layer of calcium
carbonate sediments'made up of mechanically precipated fine calcium car-
bonate, and fine particles of calcium carbonate shells of a host of mar-
ine organisms such as Halimeda segments, sea-urchin spines and ancyonarian
spicules, and the shells of Foraminifera; The outer reef base is of post-
Key Largo Limestone formation overgrown in large areas by stands of living
coral. The lagoon-and back-reef area is thickly interspersed with patch
reefs such as those forming Bache Shoal, Margot Fish Shoal, and the la-
goon reefs behind Long Reef.

Shoreward of the reef, the bottom is formed basally of Key Largo Lime-
stone overlaid by soft calcium carbonate mud or ooze, thick in the western
half of Biscayne Bay, but thin the eastern half.

A short but pertinent bibliography of sources concerning the geology
pertaining to the monument area is given at the end of the report.

A more detailed geological description of the coral reefs is given in
the following references:

1967- Miami Limestone of Florida and its Bahamian Counterpart. Geol. Soc.
Amer.Bull., 78:175-190. K. W. Stockman and H. G. Multer
1968-Geology and Origin of the Florida Keys. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull.
79:1487-1502. H. G. Multer.