Sparisoma choati Rocha, Brito & Robertson, 2012
West-African Parrotfish
Sparisoma choati
photo by Wirtz, P.

Family:  Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Sparisomatinae
Max. size:  31.4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 30 m,
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: from Cape Verde islands and Senegal south to the offshore islands of the Gulf of Guinea and northern Angola.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. This species is distinguished from all of its congeners by the following set of characters: D IX,10; A III,9; pectoral rays 12-13 (rarely 13); pelvic rays I,5; lateral line scales 23-26; gill rakers on first arch 11 to 14; Initial phase of individuals and females greyish brown to greyish red, with chin and belly paler and reddish brown scales irregularly distributed singly or in clusters along flanks; pectoral fin translucent red with a dark red to black spot on upper fourth of its base. Terminal phase of individuals with brownish red head and upper half of anterior two-thirds of body; ventral portion of central third of body yellowish green; posterior third of body dark greenish grey; black spot on upper fifth of pectoral fin base (Ref. 88982).
Biology:  Occurs in rocky reefs at 2-30 m depths, where it grazes on algae growing over rocky or calcareous substrate (Ref. 88982) and seagrasses (Ref. 7360). Males usually solitary, but females are often seen in pairs or small groups, juveniles in loose aggregations of up to 10 individuals (Ref. 88982).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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