Greenblotch Parrotfish

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).

A monandric species (Ref. 55367). Forms harem groups composed of a single male and several smaller females (Ref. 55398). Length at sex change = 5.5 cm TL (Ref. 55367).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 9

Inhabits deep rocky and coral reefs with steep walls (Ref. 9710). Generally seen in seagass beds or on reefs with thick algal cover (Ref. 13442).

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).

aquarium: commercial

Sparisoma atomarium (Poey)

Scarus atomarius Poey, 1861, p. 423.

Sparisoma atomarium.—Randall, 1965, pp. 1–9, figs. 2, 3B.

Characterized by having single median scale between pelvic bases; total gill rakers on 1st arch 12 to 16.

Dr. Randall has clearly differentiated this specier from S. radians. Both S. radians and S. atomarium show sexual dichromatism.

The Oregon collected on 8 June 1964, one specimen, USNM 258316–F1, off eastern Honduras, 15°46′N, 81°37′W.

RANGE.—Western Atlantic Ocean.

No ridge on upper dental plate bearing canine teeth; size greater than 160 mm in standard length.