Cape Verde parrotfish (Sparisoma strigatum)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Sparisoma strigatum
- Common name
- Cape Verde parrotfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Labridae
- Genus
- Sparisoma
- Size
- 20–40 cm
- Depth
- 1–30 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- schooling, grazer
- Ocean zones
- East Atlantic
Description
Sparisoma strigatum reaches 40 cm. Parrotfish (Scaridae) endemic to tropical East Atlantic (mainly Cape Verde, West African coasts). Marked sexual dimorphism: terminal males blue-green with yellow-purple snout and tail, females red-orange with yellow belly, characteristic of Sparisoma (cousin of S. cretense Macaronesia batch 10 and S. chrysopterum Caribbean batch 13). Protogynous hermaphrodite. Lives in schools from 1 to 30 m on rocky reefs. Key herbivore of Cape Verde reefs. Iconic photo subject of Cape Verde archipelago dives.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Cape Verde parrotfish?
- Cape Verde parrotfish (Sparisoma strigatum) reaches 20–40 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Cape Verde parrotfish?
- Cape Verde parrotfish is found between 1–30 m deep.
- Is the Cape Verde parrotfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Cape Verde parrotfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Cape Verde parrotfish?
- Found in: East Atlantic.
Other species in the genus Sparisoma
- Sparisoma chrysopterum - Redtail parrotfish
- Sparisoma rubripinne - Yellowtail parrotfish
- Sparisoma viride - Stoplight parrotfish
- Sparisoma cretense - Mediterranean 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 273778)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2393945)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia