| Family: |
Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Scarinae |
| Max. size: |
120 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 25 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Maryland in the USA, Bermuda and Bahamas to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Ref. 13628), including the West Indies (Ref. 3802); absent in the northern Gulf of Mexico. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Adults uniformly blue, with yellow area on top of head that disappears in larger fish. Large fish develop prominent bulging snout and extended upper and lower caudal fin lobes. No other species has this uniform blue color in adults. (Ref. 26938). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits coral reefs. Juveniles found on Thalassia beds (Ref. 13628). Feeds on benthic plants and small organisms in the sand (Ref. 5521). Forms large spawning aggregations (Ref. 9710). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 September 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
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