Stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Sparisoma viride
- Common name
- Stoplight parrotfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Labridae
- Genus
- Sparisoma
- Size
- 30–64 cm
- Depth
- 3–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef
- Behaviours
- herbivorous, schooling
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Sparisoma viride, the stoplight parrotfish, reaches 64 cm. Protogynous hermaphrodite with spectacular dimorphism: initial phase (female) red-brown with white belly and scarlet spots, terminal phase (male) emerald green with pink and yellow patterns. Horny beak that crushes coral to extract symbiotic algae. One individual produces several tons of coral sand per year.
Photo of Stoplight parrotfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Stoplight parrotfish?
- Stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) reaches 30–64 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Stoplight parrotfish?
- Stoplight parrotfish is found between 3–50 m deep.
- Is the Stoplight parrotfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Stoplight parrotfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Stoplight parrotfish?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Sparisoma
- Sparisoma chrysopterum - Redtail parrotfish
- Sparisoma rubripinne - Yellowtail parrotfish
- Sparisoma cretense - Mediterranean 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 273780)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2393894)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia