| Family: |
Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Scarinae |
| Max. size: |
120 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 20 kg |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 25 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Florida (USA), and the Bahamas to Argentina; absent in the northern Gulf of Mexico. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Fins dull orange with tongues of green extending into the dorsal and anal; margins of median fins blue; dental plates blue-green. There appears to be no obvious difference in color with sex (Ref. 13442). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits coral reefs. Young are commonly found in mangrove areas. Feeds mainly on benthic algae (Ref. 3802). Known to have a home cave to which it retires at night or when danger threatens; makes use of the sun as an aid to locating the cave. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 24 May 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
