UMA
IMPACT
The Underwater Museum of Art is not only a stunning display of human talent and creativity; it also serves an important ecological role. The sculptures provide structure for small species of fish and invertebrates, making it an ideal breeding ground. The baitfish that are attracted to the sculptures bring with them larger predators, helping to keep the ecosystem in balance. In addition, the museum provides a safe haven for young fish to grow and mature before moving out into the open ocean. As a result, the Underwater Museum of Art plays a vital role in supporting marine life.
Artificial reefs are man-made structures that are designed to promote the growth of marine life. They are usually made out of concrete, metal, or stone, and they are often used to create artificial habitats for fish and other creatures. Artificial reefs can be found in many different shapes and sizes, and they are often used to improve the quality of marine ecosystems. In addition to attracting fish, artificial reefs can also help to promote biodiversity by providing homes for a variety of other marine creatures. By promoting the growth of marine life, artificial reefs play an important role in the health of our oceans.
OBSERVED SPECIES
More than one hundred species of animal and plant life have been observed and documented in the short time that UMA artwork has been in place.
MAMMALS
Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
REPTILES
Green Sea Turtle
Chelonia midas
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Caretta caretta
Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
Lepidochelys kempii
INVERTEBRATES AND ALGAES
White Telesto
Carijoa riisei
Colorful Sea Whip
Leptogorgia virgulata
Sea Whip
Pterogoria sp.
Chlorophyta
Bryopsis, Codium
Rhodophyta
Dasya, Gracilaria, Hypea, Kalymenia, Wrangelia
Barnacle
Thoracica
Fan Bryozoan
Scrupocellaria sp. or Bugula spp.
Hydroids
Hyrdoida
Light Bulb Anemone
Actiniaria (unidentified)
Overgrowing Tunicate
Ascidiacea
Sea Frost
Filograna huxleyi
Sessile Annelid
Sabellidae
Solitary Tunicate
Styela sp.
Star Encrusting Sponge
Halisarca sp.
Tubular-Horn Bryozoan
Schizoporella pungens
White Tangled Bryozoan
Bracebridgia subsulcata
Cyanobacteria
Lyngbya sp.
Cyanobacteria (Red)
Cyanophyta
Crustose Coralline Algae
Rhodophyta
Turf Algae
Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, Rhodophyta
FISH
Almaco Jack
Seriola rivoliana
Atlantic Spadefish
Chaetodipterus faber
Bank Sea Bass
Centropristis ocyurus
Bar Jack
Carangoides ruber
Beaugregory
Stegastes leucostictus
Belted Sandfish
Serranus subligariu
Bermuda Chub
Kyphosus sectatrix
Bicolor Damselfish
Stegastes partitus
Black Grouper
Mycteroperca bonaci
Black Sea Bass
Centropristis striata
Blenny sp.
Labrisomidae, Blenniidae
Blue Angelfish
Holacanthus bermudensis
Blue Headed Wrasse
Thalassoma bifasciatum
Blue Runner
Caranx crysos
Cocoa Damselfish
Stegastes variabilis
Doctorfish
Acanthurus chirurgus
Dog Snapper
Lutjanus jocu
Eel sp.
Muraenidae
French Grunt
Haemulon flavolineatum
Gag Grouper
Mycteroperca microlepis
Goby sp.
Gobiidae
Goliath Grouper
Epinephelus itajara
Gray Snapper
Lutjanus griseus
Gray Triggerfish
Balistes capriscus
Graysby
Cephalopholis cruentata
Greater Amberjack
Seriola dumerili
Greater Soapfish
Rypticus saponaceus
Grouper sp.
Serranidae
Grunt sp.
Haemulidae
Gulf Flounder
Paralichthys albiguttata
Harlequin Bass
Serranus tigrinus
Hogfish
Lachnolaimus maximus
Horse-eye Jack
Caranx latus
Jack sp.
Carangidae
Jackknife Fish
Equetus lanceolatus
King Mackerel
Scomberomorus cavall
Lane Snapper
Lutjanus synagris
Mutton Snapper
Lutjanus analis
Nurse Shark
Ginglymostoma cirratum
Parrotfish sp.
Scaridae
Pigfish
Orthopristis chrysoptera
Pinfish
Lagodon rhomboides
Polka-dot Batfish
Ogcocephalus cubifrons
Porgy sp.
Sparidae
Queen Triggerfish
Balistes vetula
Rainbow Runner
Elagatis bipinnulata
Red Grouper
Epinephelus morio
Red Lionfish
Pterois volitans
Red Snapper
Lutjanus campechanus
Round Scad
Decapterus punctatus
Sand Diver
Synodus intermedius
Sand Perch
Diplectrum formosum
Sandbar Shark
Carcharhinus plumbeus
Scamp
Mycteroperca phenax
Schoolmaster
Lutjanus apodus
Scrawled Cowfish
Acanthostracion quadricornis
Sea Bass sp.
Serranidae
Sea Bream
Archosargus rhomboidalis
Seaweed Blenny
Parablennius marmoreus
Sergeant Major
Abudefduf saxatilis
Sharpnose Puffer
Canthigaster rostrata
Sheepshead
Archosargus probatocephalus
Silversides, Herrings, Anchovies
Atherinidae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae
Slippery Dick
Halichoeres bivittatus
Southern Stingray
Dasyatis americana
Spanish Hogfish
Bodianus rufus
Spanish Mackerel
Scomberomorus maculatus
Spotfin Burrfish
Chilomycterus reticulatus
Spotfin Butterflyfish
Chaetodon ocellatus
Spotted Scorpionfish
Scorpaena plumieri
Stingray sp.
Rajiformes
Tomtate
Haemulon aurolineatum
Vermillion Snapper
Rhomboplites aurorubens
White Grunt
Haemulon plumierii
Whitefin Sharksucker
Echeneis neucratoides
Whitespotted Soapfish
Rypticus maculatus
Wrasse sp.
Labridae
