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Aerial view of the Belize Barrier Reef - Reef Crest with Spur and Groove
Photo by Tony Rath
The Caye Caulker Marine Reserve includes the turtle grass lagoon adjacent to the
Caye Caulker Forest Reserve and the Belize Barrier Reef that runs parallel to
the entire Caye, extending approximately a mile beyond the reef. This area has
been used for snorkeling, scuba diving and sport fishing for some time. The
Reserves are co-manged by the Forest and Marine Reserves Association of Caye
Caulker (FAMRACC), an NGO composed of community representatives formed for this
purpose, along with the Fisheries Department. An excellent museum of reef ecology can be seen in the Belize Marine Terminal. Here are some scenes to show you
the spectacular beauty to be found in the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve. Four following images by James Beveridge.
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A regal queen angelfish swims around the base of a large barrel sponge with two
small bluehead wrasses swimming above. Sponges are among the most colourful and
interesting creatures at the reef. They are formed as a simple aggregation of
individual cells with a central pore. Water is drawn through the pore to provide the animal
with food and oxygen. They range in size from half an inch to over 6 feet. There are
sponges of all colours - grey, brown, red, orange, yellow, greens and violet.
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Even worms show interesting structures. Shown here is the Christmas tree worm.
These worms construct hard tubes to live in. The tree structures are sharp
bristles that are used to catch food. They are attached to a segment of the worm and will be retracted
into the tube if disturbed. Other marine worms include feather duster worms,
named for their appearance, and fire worms, named for their effects on human
skin. A star coral is seen in the lower right.
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Two redband parrotfish are shown here - the supermale (center) and an adult.
Adult parrot fish are sexually active males and females. The terminal phase
called "supermale" is either a further matured male or is the result of a female
changing sex, possibly when she is past egg producing stage. They are usually
infertile. Their role is to protect the spawing fish from predators. There
are many kinds of hard corals, usually named for their surface appearance. A small lettuce coral is seen on the right side and a small brain coral head is in the lower left. The branched structure to the upper
left was a gorgonian, a soft coral that weaves back forth in the current.
But fire coral encrusted over it taking the original shape of the gorgonian. The
bright red structure on the upper left is a sponge.
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Shrimp, crabs and lobsters of many different sizes, shapes, and colours are seen
among the coral, hermit crabs, arrow crabs, banded shrimp, spiny lobster, and
slipper lobster, to name only a few. This is a spotted cleaner shrimp with only
its antennae and legs showing, which is in a giant anemone. Anemones, jellyfish,
and other creatures are also found in many different forms for your viewing
pleasure.
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