Mediterranean parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Sparisoma cretense
- Common name
- Mediterranean parrotfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Labridae
- Genus
- Sparisoma
- Size
- 20–50 cm
- Depth
- 2–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, seagrass
- Behaviours
- solitary, grazer
- Ocean zones
- Macaronesia, Mediterranean, East Atlantic
Description
Sparisoma cretense reaches 50 cm. Only parrotfish naturally present in Mediterranean and Macaronesia. Striking sexual dimorphism: males gray-brown with yellow tail, females red-purple with yellow flank band and gray tail. Protogynous hermaphrodite. Lives from 2 to 50 m on rocks and seagrass. Grazes algae and small invertebrates with powerful beak. Moves in mixed schools. Iconic photo subject of eastern Med and Macaronesia.
Photo of Mediterranean parrotfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Mediterranean parrotfish?
- Mediterranean parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) reaches 20–50 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Mediterranean parrotfish?
- Mediterranean parrotfish is found between 2–50 m deep.
- Is the Mediterranean parrotfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Mediterranean parrotfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Mediterranean parrotfish?
- Found in: Macaronesia, Mediterranean, East Atlantic.
Other species in the genus Sparisoma
- Sparisoma chrysopterum - Redtail parrotfish
- Sparisoma rubripinne - Yellowtail parrotfish
- Sparisoma viride - Stoplight parrotfish
- Sparisoma strigatum - Cape Verde parrotfish
- Sparisoma atomarium - Atomium Parrotfish
- Sparisoma radians - Radiant Parrotfish
Other species in the family Labridae
- Labrus merula - Brown wrasse
- Bodianus rufus - Spanish hogfish
- Bodianus pulchellus - Cuban hogfish
- Halichoeres pictus - Rainbow wrasse
- Halichoeres cyanocephalus - Yellowcheek wrasse
- Scarus iseri - Striped parrotfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 231441)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2393905)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia