WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Greenblotch Parrotfish

Sparisoma atomarium

Also known as: Sammy Johnson

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Juvenile
@bwinter · Isla Mujeres, Mexico · February 20171 / 1
01

Overview

Found in harems, over seagrass beds, and walls, in deep waters, of coral and rocky reefs, rich in algae growth.

Parrotfish are hermaphrodites and live in harems with a dominant male. They are not territorial, living and feeding in harmony with other species.
Their teeth are fused into powerful beaks which are used for grabbing filamentous algae from dead coral, often found feeding in a cloud of sediment.
At night parrotfish make a sleeping bag out of slime bubbles for protection against predators.
These beautiful fish whose males usually outshine the females for colour also change dramatically from juvenile to adult.

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How to identify

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found in harems, over seagrass beds, and walls, in deep waters, of coral and rocky reefs, rich in algae growth.

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Juvenile photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyScaridae
    2. genusSparisoma
    3. speciesSparisoma atomarium (Poey, 1861)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)