Greenblotch parrotfish
Sparisoma atomarium
Max length : 25.0 cm.
Short description:
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 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.
Biology
Inhabits deep rocky and coral reefs with steep walls. Generally seen in seagrass beds or on reefs with thick algal cover. A protogynous hermaphrodite.
Life cycle and mating behavior:
A monandric species. Forms harem groups composed of a single male and several smaller females. Length at sex change = 5.5 cm TL.
Short description:
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 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.
Biology
Inhabits deep rocky and coral reefs with steep walls. Generally seen in seagrass beds or on reefs with thick algal cover. A protogynous hermaphrodite.
Life cycle and mating behavior:
A monandric species. Forms harem groups composed of a single male and several smaller females. Length at sex change = 5.5 cm TL.