Scarus taeniopterus Lesson, 1829
Princess parrotfish
Scarus taeniopterus
photo by Wirtz, P.

Family:  Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Scarinae
Max. size:  35 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 11 years
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 25 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Bermuda, southern Florida (USA), and Bahamas to Brazil; throughout the Caribbean (Ref. 3802).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Juveniles and young adults dark olive above with 2 broad dark stripes: upper from tip of snout through eye to middle of caudal fin base, lower from chin through pectoral fin base to lower caudal fin base; white area above upper stripe continues around front of head above eye (Ref. 26938).
Biology:  Found on bottoms with coral or rock (Ref. 13628). Juveniles often occur in association with Thalassia. Forms large feeding aggregations and feeds on plants. Sleeps in a mucus cocoon (Ref. 9710).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 September 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  reports of ciguatera poisoning


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.