| Family: |
Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Sparisomatinae |
| Max. size: |
15.4 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 5 - 20 m |
| Distribution: |
Southwestern Atlantic: from the state of Bahia (Abrolhos Archipelago National Marine Park to the state of Santa Catarina), Brazil. |
| Diagnosis: |
|
| Biology: |
Found in shallow areas of tropical rocky reefs. Males establish territories (approximately 8 m2). Juveniles are strongly associated with seaweed beds, occasionally found mixed with Sparisoma radians and Cryptotomus roseus. This species is typically a scraper which grazes upon a large variety of epilithic algae (e.g. Jania, Gelidium, Polysiphonia, consequently ingesting a large quantity of sediment. It is however, very plastic in its feeding habits and is commonly observed browsing over Sargassum. Males and larger initial phase adult individuals perform up to 2400 bites daily with a mean gut turnover of about 2.5 guts day-1, having an important role on local energy flux (Ref. 52151). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 June 2008 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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