Species · GBIF taxon 2393894
Stoplight Parrotfish
Sparisoma virideAlso known as Green Parrotfish, Stoplight
Stoplight parrotfish are vital coral reef engineers famous for their dramatic color phases and loud, crunching bites that echo underwater as they graze. Terminal-phase males flaunt vivid emerald-green scales with a distinctive yellow spot near the tail base, while initial-phase individuals display a mottled red, grey, and white patterning. By excavating live coral and dead substrates to consume endolithic algae, they grind calcium carbonate into fine white sand and clear crucial settling space for new coral polyps.
Reef DwellerHerbivorousColor Changing
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Endolithic algae
- Filamentous turf algae
- Macroalgae
Predators
- Great Barracuda
- Nassau Grouper
- Caribbean Reef Shark
ThreatsCoral reef degradation, warming oceans, and spearfishing pressure
HabitatsCoral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove nurseries
Life span7–12 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyScaridae
- SpeciesSparisoma viride
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Listen carefully: Snorkelers can easily hear the audible scraping of their fused beak teeth scraping limestone.
- Night dive etiquette: Avoid shining bright dive torches directly at sleeping parrotfish resting in protective mucus cocoons.
- Maintain steady buoyancy: Approach slowly without sudden movements to watch terminal males patrol their feeding territories.
Food Source (c) Sara Lovotti, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Sara Lovotti · cc-by
Predator Hectonichus / CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Close Relative Pauline Walsh Jacobson / CC BY 4.0 · cc-by
Family Member "queen parrotfish Scarus vetula terminal phase" by Paul and Jill is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
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