| Family: |
Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Sparisomatinae |
| Max. size: |
30 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 80 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Absent in Bermuda, Bahamas and West Indies (except Greater Antilles). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Body somewhat elongate, the depth contained 3 to 3.2 times in SL. Snout somewhat pointed; a small dermal cirrus at edge of anterior nostril; teeth fused only basally, thus not fully coalesced to form dental plates. Gill rakers 12 or 13. Caudal fin slightly rounded; pectoral fin-rays 13. Median predorsal scales 4 or 5; 1 row of scales on cheek. Colour: mottled olive green on back, the scales of sides with bluish white centres and reddish edges; head below level of mouth yellow; 2 diagonal narrow red-orange bands on cheek; median fins reddish, dorsal fin with a black blotch at front. |
| Biology: |
Maximum depth from Ref. 52834. Inhabits seagrass beds and open bottom, mostly in shallow water. Larger adults live in deeper water. Not commonly marketed for food (Ref. 52834). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 June 2008 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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