Location and general information
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On a calm and clear day, the corals of the Hol Chan
cut can be seen thru the translucent waters from
visiting dive boats.
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The Hol Chan Marine Reserve is located along the northern
section of the barrier reef, approximately four miles southeast of
the warm and friendly town of San Pedro on Ambergris caye. A
central feature of the reserve is a natural break, or cut (the reserve
takes its name from the Mayan term for this cut) in the reef.
The cut gives rise to striking coral formations, fish and other
marine life. The reserve encompasses more than five square miles
of ecologically linked coral reef, sea grass meadows and coastal
mangrove swamp habitats.
The Hol Chan Cut and the surrounding reef area along with the interrelated and interdependent
lagoon and mangrove habitats were included in the reserve so that the entire ecosystem could be protected and monitored. The need for the protection of this area was particularly urgent due to the increase of tourist development. Also the reef in this area had traditionally been
exposed to heavy use and showed signs of stress caused by overcollecting, overfishing, and anchor damage. With the increase in development, a greater stress on the reef was imminent. With the protection offered to the area by "reserve status" it was expected that the area
would be restored to its earlier, more vital state.
The Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley are the most popular diving/snorkeling sites in all of Belize. This is due to the close proximity of San Pedro, the large amount of fish life found with the Hol Chan "cut" accessible by snorkelers and beginning divers, the diversity of marine life encountered throughout the 4 zones of the park and the exitement and novelty of swimming with large numbers of nurse sharks and sting rays.
Over 160 species of fish have been identified in the reserve, along with nearly 40 species of corals, 5 sponges, 8 algaes, 2 seagrasses, 3 marine mammals and 3 species of sea turtle.
Below is the most current census of the marine life found within the Hol Chan Marine Reserves boundaries:
Sergeant Major -
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Abudefduf saxatilis
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Ocean Surgeonfish -
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Acanthuirus bahianus
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Doctorfish -
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Acanthurus chirurgus
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Blue Tang -
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Acanthurus coeruleus
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Reef Squirrelfish -
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Adioryx coruscus
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Spotted Eagle Ray -
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Aetoboatus narinari
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Bonefish -
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Albula vulpes
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Scrawled Filefish -
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Aluterus scriptus
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Hawkfish -
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Amblycirritus pinos
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Black Margate -
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Anisotremus surinamensis
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Porkfish -
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Anisotremus virginicus
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Bridled Cardinalfish -
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Apogon aurolineatus
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Flamefish -
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Apogon maculatus
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Sea Bream -
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Archosargus rhomboidals
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Bronze Cardinalfish -
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Astropagon alutus
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Conchfish -
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Astrapogon stellatus
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Silverside -
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Athermomorus stipes
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Trumpetfish -
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Aulostomus maculatus
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Queen Trigger -
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Balistes vetula
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Spanish Hogfish -
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Bodianus rufus
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Peacock Flounder -
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Bothus lunatus
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Saucereye Porgy -
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Calamus calamus
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Orangespotted Filefish -
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Cantherhinus pullus
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Sharpnose Puffer -
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Canthigaster rostrata
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Blue Runner -
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Caranx crysos
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Crevalle Jack -
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Caranx hippos
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Horse-eye Jack -
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Caranx latus
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Bar Jack -
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Caranx ruber
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Bull Shark -
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Carcharhinus leucas
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Black Tip Shark -
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Carcharhinus limbatus
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Nurse Shark -
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Ginglymostoma cirratum
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Snook -
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Centropomus undecimalis
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Spadefish -
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Chaetodipterus faber
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Four-eye Butterflyfish -
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Chaetodon capistratus
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Spotfin Butterflyfish -
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Chaetodon ocellatus
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Banded Butterflyfish -
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Chaetodon striatus
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Striped Burrfish -
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Chilomycterus schoepfi
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Blue Chromis -
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Chromis cyaneus
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Dolphin -
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Coryphaena hippurus
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Bridled Goby -
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Coryphopterus glaucofraenum
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Masked Goby -
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Coryphopterus personatus
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Sheepshead Minnow -
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Cyprinodon variegatus
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Atlantic Flyingfish -
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Cypselurus heterurus
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Flying Grunard -
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Dactylopterus volitans
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Southern Stingray -
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Dasyatis americana
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Balloonfish -
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Diodon holocanthus
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Porcupinefish -
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Diodon hystrix
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Shark Sucker -
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Echeneis naucrates
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Rock Hind -
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Epinephalus adscensionis
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Graysby -
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Epinephalus cruentatus
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Red Hind Grouper -
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Epinephalus gattatus
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Coney -
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Epinephalus fulvus
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Jewfish -
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Epinephalus itajara
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Red Grouper -
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Epinephalus mario
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Nassau Grouper -
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Epinephalus striatus
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Jackknife Fish -
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Equetus lanceolatus
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Majarra -
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Eucinostomas sp.
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Cornetfish -
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Fistularia tabacaria
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Longspine Squirrelfish -
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falmmeo marianus
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Tiger Shark -
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Galeocerdo cuvieri
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Yellowfin mojarra -
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Gerres cinereus
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Neon Goby -
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Gobiosoma oceanops
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Fairy Basslet -
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Gramma loreto
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Green Moray -
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Gymnothorax funebris
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Spotted Moray -
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Gymnothorax moringa
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Purple Mouth Moray -
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Gymnothorax vicinus
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Margate -
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Haemulon album
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Tomate -
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Haemulon aurolineatum
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Small Mouth Grunt -
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Haemulon chrysargyreum
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French Grunt -
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Haemulon flavolineatum
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Cottonwick -
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Haemulon melanurum
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White Grunt -
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Haemulon plumieri
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Blue-Striped Grunt -
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Haemulon sciurus
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Slippery Dick -
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Halichoeres bivittatus
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Yellowhead Wrasse -
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Halichoeres garnotti
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Clown Wrasse -
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Halichoeres maculipinna
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Rainbow Wrasse -
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Halichoeres pictus
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Puddingwife -
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Halichoeres radiatus
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Scaled Sardine -
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Harengula jaguana
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Ballyhoo -
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Hemiramphus brasiliensis
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Seahorse -
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Hippocampus sp.
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Squirrelfish -
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Holocentrus sp.
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Long jaw Squirrelfish -
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Holocentrus ascensionis
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Longspine Squirrelfish -
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Holocentrus rufus
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Queen Angelfish -
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Holacanthus ciliaris
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Rock Beauty -
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Holacanthus tricolor
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Hamlet -
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Hypoplectus sp.
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Indego Hamlet -
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Hypoplectus indego
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Dwarf Herring -
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Jenkensia lamprotaenia
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Chub -
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Kyphosus sp.
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Bermuda Chub -
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Kyphosus sectatrix
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Hogfish -
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Lachnolaimus maximus
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Honeycomb Cowfish -
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Lactophrys polygonia
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Scrawled Cowfish -
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Lactophrys quadricornis
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Trunkfish -
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Lactophrys trigonus
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Perpermint Bass -
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Liopropoma rubre
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Candy Bass -
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Liopropoma carmabi
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Triple-tail -
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Loliotes surinamensis
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Crested Goby -
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Lophogobius eyprinoides
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Mutton Snapper -
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Lutjanus analis
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School Master -
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Lutjanus apodus
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Cubera Snapper -
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Lutjanus cyanopterus
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Grey Snapper -
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Lutjanus griseus
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Dog Snapper -
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Lutjanus jocu
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Rock Hind -
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Epinephalus adscensionis
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Graysby -
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Epinephalus cruentatus
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Red Hind Grouper -
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Epinephalus gattatus
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Coney -
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Epinephalus fulvus
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Jewfish -
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Epinephalus itajara
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Red Grouper -
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Epinephalus mario
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Nassau Grouper -
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Epinephalus striatus
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Jackknife Fish -
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Equetus lanceolatus
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Mahogany Snapper -
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Lutjanus mahogoni
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Lane Snapper -
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Lutjanus synagris
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Sand Tilefish -
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Malacanthus plumieri
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Atlantic Manta -
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Manta birostris
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Tarpon -
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Megalops atlanticus
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Black Durgon -
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Melichthys niger
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Yellowtail damselfish -
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Microspathodon chrysurus
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White Mullet -
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Mugil curema
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Yellow Goatfish -
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Mulloidichthys martinicus
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Goldentail Moray -
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Muraena miliaris
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Rockfish Grouper -
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Mycteroperca bonaci
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Tiger Grouper -
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Mycteroperca tigris
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Yellowfin Grouper -
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Mycteroperca venenosa
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Lemon Shark -
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Negaprion brevirostris
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Yellowtail Snapper -
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Ocyurus chrysurus
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Shortnose Batfish -
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Ogcocephalus nasutus
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Yellowhead Jawfish -
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Opistognathus aurifrons
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Creole Fish -
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Paranthias fucifer
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Glassy Sweeper -
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Pempheris schomburgki
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Freckled Cardinalfish -
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Phaeoptyx conklini
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Sailfin Molly -
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Poecilia latipinna
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Gray Angelfish -
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Pomacanthus arcuatus
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French Angelfish -
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Pomacanthus paru
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Dusky Damselfish -
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Pomacentrus fuscus
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Beaugregory -
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Pomacentrus leucostictus
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Bicolor Damselfish -
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Pomascentrus partitus
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Three Spot Damselfish -
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Pomacentrus planifrons
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Cocoa Damselfish -
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Pomacentrus variabilis
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Spotted Goatfish -
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Pseudopeneus maculatus
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Southern Guitarfish -
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Rhinoboutos percellens
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Soapfish -
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Rypticus sp.
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Midnight Parrotfish -
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Scarus coelestinus
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Blue Parrotfish -
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Scarus coeruleus
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Striped Parrotfish -
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Scarus croicensis
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Rainbow Parrotfish -
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Scarus guacamaia
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Princess Parrotfish -
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Scarus taeniopterus
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Queen Parrotfish -
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Scarus vetula
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Cero -
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Scomberomorus regalis
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Reef Scorpionfish -
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Scorpaena caribbaeus
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Plumed Scorpionfish -
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Scorpaena grandicornis
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Look Down -
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Selene vomer
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Greater Amberjack -
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Seriola dumerili
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Harlequin Bass -
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Serranus tigrinus
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Redband Parrotfish -
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Sparisoma aurofrenatum
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Red-tailed Parrotfish -
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Sparisoma chrysopterum
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Bucktooth Parrotfish -
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Sparisoma radians
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Redfin Parrotfish -
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Sparisoma rubripinne
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Stoplight Parrotfish -
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Sparisoma viride
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Southern Puffer -
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Sphoeroides nephelus
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Bandtail Puffer -
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Sphoeroides spengleri
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Checkered Puffer -
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Sphoeroides testudineus
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Great Barracuda -
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Sphyraena barracuda
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Great Hammerhead Shark -
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Sphyrna mokarran
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Redfin Needlefish -
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Strongylura notata
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Pipefish -
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Syngnathus sp.
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Lizardfish -
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Synodus sp.
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Red Lizardfish -
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Synodus synodus
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Bluehead Wrasse -
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Thalassoma bifasciatum
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Permit -
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Trachinotus falcatus
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Houndfish -
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Tylosurus crocodilus
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Yellow Stingray -
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Urolophus jamaicensis
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Staghorn Coral -
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Acropora cervicornis
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Elkhorn Coral -
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Acropora palmata
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Leaf Coral -
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Agaricia agaricites
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Sheet Coral -
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Agaricia lamarcki
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Ribbon Coral -
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Agaricia tenuifolia
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Giant Brain Coral -
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Colpophyllia natans
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Elliptical Star Coral -
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Dichocoenia stokesii
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Smooth Brain Coral -
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Diploria strigosa
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Grooved Brain Coral -
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Diploria labyrinthiformis
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Pencil Coral -
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Madracis sp.
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Rose Coral -
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Manicina areolata
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Mountainous Star Coral -
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Montastrea annularis
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Cavernous Star Coral -
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Montastrea cavernosa
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Club Finger Coral -
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Porites porites
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Mustard Hill Coral -
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Porites asteroides
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Rough Starlet Coral -
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Siderastrea radians
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Smooth Starlet Coral -
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Siderastrea siderea
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Corky Sea Fingers -
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Briareum asbestinum
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Knobby Candelabra -
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Eunicea sp.
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Common Sea Fan -
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Gorgonia ventalina
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Venus Sea Fan -
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Gorgonia flabellum
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Spiny muricea -
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Muricea muricata
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Sea Rod -
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Plexaurella sp.
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Sea Plume -
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Pseudopterogorgia sp.
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Sea Whip -
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Pterogorgia sp.
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Red Boring Sponge -
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Cliona sp.
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Cake Sponge -
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Ircinia strobilina
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Sprawling Sponge -
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Neopetrosia longleyi
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Candle Sponge -
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Verongia sp.
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Basket Sponge -
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Xestospongia sp.
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Sergeant Major -
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Abudefduf saxatilis
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Ocean Surgeonfish -
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Acanthuirus bahianus
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Manatee Grass -
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Syringodium filiforme
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Turtle Grass -
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Thalassia testudinum
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Hawksbill Turtle -
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Eretmochelys imbricata
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Loggerhead Turtle -
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Caretta caretta
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Green Turtle -
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Chelomia mydas
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Common Dolphin -
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Delphinus delphis
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Spotted Dolphin -
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Stenella attenuata
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West Indian Manatee -
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Trichechus manatus
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