| Family: |
Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Sparisomatinae |
| Max. size: |
25 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 20 - 55 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Bermuda, southern Florida (USA), and Bahamas to northern South America. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Initial phase olive-brown, finely mottled with pale pink, with whitish stripes (most evident on ventral half of body); one changeable color phase with a broad dark stripe from snout, enclosing eye, and passing along upper side; terminal males with a broad band of olive or red on upper side, finely flecked with other colors, the ventral half with iridescent light blue-green and wavy orange stripes; a bright green blotch as large as eye on shoulder region behind upper end of gill opening, sometimes containing one or two deep blue spots (Ref. 13442). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits deep rocky and coral reefs with steep walls (Ref. 9710). Generally seen in seagrass beds or on reefs with thick algal cover (Ref. 13442). A protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 September 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
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