Nicholsina usta (Valenciennes, 1840)
Emerald parrotfish
Nicholsina usta
photo by Cox, C.D.

Family:  Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Sparisomatinae
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 80 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Absent in Bermuda, Bahamas and West Indies (except Greater Antilles).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Body somewhat elongate, the depth contained 3 to 3.2 times in SL. Snout somewhat pointed; a small dermal cirrus at edge of anterior nostril; teeth fused only basally, thus not fully coalesced to form dental plates. Gill rakers 12 or 13. Caudal fin slightly rounded; pectoral fin-rays 13. Median predorsal scales 4 or 5; 1 row of scales on cheek. Colour: mottled olive green on back, the scales of sides with bluish white centres and reddish edges; head below level of mouth yellow; 2 diagonal narrow red-orange bands on cheek; median fins reddish, dorsal fin with a black blotch at front.
Biology:  Maximum depth from Ref. 52834. Inhabits seagrass beds and open bottom, mostly in shallow water. Larger adults live in deeper water. Not commonly marketed for food (Ref. 52834).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 June 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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