Data on the community organization of coral reef fishes of Kavaratti atoll,
Lakshadweep, India were collected during the period January 1991 to June
1992. Species were enumerated by visual census on the live coral sub-habitat
for frequency of occurrence, abundance, composition, diversity, evenness and
seasonal variation in community parameters. As the live coral zone was
composed of a single species of ramose coral (Acropora formosa), only 14 families
and 39 species of reef fishes made use of this zone, the community diversity
being 1.84 and 3.16. Chaetodontids, labrids and pomacentrids were
comparatively more abundant. Varying habitats of chaetodontids explain their
restricted distribution. Live coral does not seem to be a preferred habitat of
labrids. The occurrence of epinephelids was influenced by readily available
prey. Most species among live coral were resident, variations resulted from
factors affecting new recruits rather than habitat shifts
