Scarus iseri (Bloch, 1789)
Striped parrotfish
Scarus iseri
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Scarinae
Max. size:  35 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 25 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Florida (USA), Bahamas, and northeastern Gulf of Mexico to northern South America; throughout the Caribbean (Ref. 3802, 13628). Range probably extends to Brazil (Ref. 13628).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9. White stripe above upper dark stripe ends at gill opening; upper and lower caudal margins pale (Ref. 26938). Terminal phase males are blue-green and orange, chest and head pink below a green band at lower edge of eye; median fins with blue borders, the broad central parts orange with linear blue markings (Ref. 13442).
Biology:  Found over shallow, clear waters, generally over Thalassia beds (Ref. 13628). Also found rocky or coral areas (Ref. 13628). A schooling species. Feeds on plants. A protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367). Super males spawn individually with striped females, while sexually mature males in the striped phase spawn in aggregation.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 September 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  reports of ciguatera poisoning
Country info:   
 


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