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Sparisoma atomarium (Poey, 1861) Greenblotch parrotfish |
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photo by
Randall, J.E. |
| Family: | Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Sparisomatinae | |||
| Max. size: | 25 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 20 - 55 m | |||
| Distribution: | Western Atlantic: Bermuda, southern Florida (USA), and Bahamas to northern South America. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Initial phase olive-brown, finely mottled with pale pink, with whitish stripes (most evident on ventral half of body); one changeable color phase with a broad dark stripe from snout, enclosing eye, and passing along upper side; terminal males with a broad band of olive or red on upper side, finely flecked with other colors, the ventral half with iridescent light blue-green and wavy orange stripes; a bright green blotch as large as eye on shoulder region behind upper end of gill opening, sometimes containing one or two deep blue spots (Ref. 13442). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits deep rocky and coral reefs with steep walls (Ref. 9710). Generally seen in seagrass beds or on reefs with thick algal cover (Ref. 13442). A protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 September 2009 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||