![Stoplight Parrotfish Sex Change and Reproduction: <br />
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The colors of the stoplight parrotfish in the initial phase, when it could be either a male or a female, are dramatically different from those in the terminal phase, when it is definitely a male. In the initial phase, the stoplight parrotfish can rapidly change the color of the scales on its underside from red to white.[citation needed] Juveniles of both sexes are not dimorphic; following a post-settlement period, they enter their initial phase. <br />
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The majority of juveniles are female. Once reaching sexual maturity, some individuals may enter terminal phase; these fish are always male (sometimes known as secondary males or super males) and exhibit the blue-green coloration described above. Individuals that were born as males (known as primary males) will remain males into their terminal stage. Sex changes often occur when population numbers are low, and only involve females becoming males.<br />
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Here is what the terminal stage male looks like:<br />
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Stoplight-parrotfish.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Stoplight-parrotfish.jpg</a><br />
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<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/22973/stoplight_parrotfish_male.html" title="Stoplight parrotfish (male)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/1780/22973_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=FC%2FeWtliJ4A%2FF%2BZJUzz6lD3rfIM%3D" width="200" height="150" alt="Stoplight parrotfish (male) See details of the sex change of this species by clicking on this picture below:<br />
http://www.jungledragon.com/image/22947/stoplight_parrotfish.html Fall,Geotagged,Sparisoma viride,Stoplight parrotfish,U.S. Virgin Islands,trunk bay" /></a></figure> Fall,Geotagged,Sparisoma viride,Stoplight parrotfish,Trunk Bay,U.S. Virgin Islands](https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/1780/22947_medium.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=Kmn0jo6xBCEn%2BE6DTsj6wi2qCvo%3D)
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Stoplight Parrotfish
Sex Change and Reproduction:
The colors of the stoplight parrotfish in the initial phase, when it could be either a male or a female, are dramatically different from those in the terminal phase, when it is definitely a male. In the initial phase, the stoplight parrotfish can rapidly change the color of the scales on its underside from red to white.[citation needed] Juveniles of both sexes are not dimorphic; following a post-settlement period, they enter their initial phase.
The majority of juveniles are female. Once reaching sexual maturity, some individuals may enter terminal phase; these fish are always male (sometimes known as secondary males or super males) and exhibit the blue-green coloration described above. Individuals that were born as males (known as primary males) will remain males into their terminal stage. Sex changes often occur when population numbers are low, and only involve females becoming males.
Here is what the terminal stage male looks like:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Stoplight-parrotfish.jpg
The stoplight parrotfish is a sex-changing fish inhabiting coral reefs in Florida, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and as far south as Brazil. Its typical length is between 1–1.5 ft , but it can reach 2 ft at times. It is normally found during the day between 15–80 ft.
comments (4)
It's wonderful being able to learn (as I am doing) about all these animals. Posted 10 years ago
I tried every possible query in Google that I could think of without success.
Sometimes, though, you have to think "out of the box" as they say. I sat back and thought this fish is hidden because it has camouflage. BINGO...I searched "Camouflaged Fish" and there she was.
(This is what led me to email you about your Masters of Camouflage List) Posted 10 years ago