Sparisoma chrysopterum

Sparisoma chrysopterum
Male specimen, terminal colour phase
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scaridae
Genus: Sparisoma
Species: S. tuiupiranga
Binomial name
Sparisoma tuiupiranga
(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Synonyms

See text

"Kwab" redirects here. For other uses, see Kwab (disambiguation).

Sparisoma chrysopterum, common names the redtail parrotfish, blue parrotfish, kwab, pink kwab, pink parrot, blisterside, and blue black-finned chub,[1] is a species of parrotfish.[2]

Description

The upper end of the pectoral fin base shows black saddle-shaped markings while they are young adults. Commonly, there is a light, saddle-shaped area on top of caudal peduncle. The dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins are orange or red in colour.[3]

Juvenile specimens or those in the initial phase have a mottled pattern similar to the substratum. This provides camouflage when they rest on the sea floor.[3]

Distribution

This species lives in the western Atlantic Ocean from Brazil in the south, north to Florida and the Bahamas. It also occurs throughout the Caribbean Sea.[3]

Diet

Sparisoma chrysopterum This species grazes on seagrasses and algae growing in the benthic zone.[3]

Parasites

This species is known to host an ectoparasite in the Caligus genus named Caligus atromaculatus (C.B. Wilson, 1913).[2]

Synonyms

References

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