Sparisoma viride (Bonnaterre, 1788)

Stoplight parrotfish

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Perciformes \| Scaridae \| Sparisomatinae
Synonyms	Scarus viridis, ... more
Common names	Dark green parrotfish, Loro brilloso, Loro colorado, ... more

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Sparisoma viride

Picture by Patzner, R.

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Cervigón, F., R. Cipriani, W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, M. Hendrickx, A.J. Lemus, R. Márquez, J.M. Poutiers, G. Robaina and B. Rodriguez. 1992. (Ref. 5217)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Westneat, Mark | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 64.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3802); common length : 38.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3802); max. published weight: 1,600 g (Ref. 26340)

Length at first maturity

L_m 16.3, range 18 - ? cm

Environment

Reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 50 m (Ref. 9710)

Climate / Range

Subtropical; 34°N - 6°S, 100°W - 36°W (Ref. 55284)

Western Atlantic: southern Florida (USA), Bermuda, Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean Sea to Brazil.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. Relationship between fork length (FL) and maximum body depth (D): D = 0.10 + 0.33(FL); FL = -0.40 + 3.06(D), for n = 79, length range (cm, FL) = 13.5-25.5 (Ref. 3191). A distinctive, colorful and abundant fish. Young adults and females with scales outlined in darker gray; often bright red below. Super males green, with bright yellow spot at upper edge of gill cover, yellow bar at base of tail, curved orange-yellow mark on caudal fin rays (Ref. 26938). Initial phase fish with a brown head, the scales of the upper two-thirds of the body with pale centers and dark brown edges, the lower third of body and fins bright red. Terminal phase males are green with three diagonal orange bands on upper half of head

Inhabits coral reefs with clear water (Ref. 13628). Young may be found in seagrass beds and other heavily vegetated bottoms. Feeds mainly on soft algae, but has been observed to graze on live corals like, Montastraea annularis (Ref. 6496). Produces a significant amount of sediment through bioerosion using its strong beak-like jaws and constantly re-growing teeth (Ref. 6485). Protogynous; strictly diurnal, spends the night sleeping on the bottom (Ref. 5221). Found singly or small in small groups.


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Not Evaluated	Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30303)

Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial


More information
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