Trindade parrotfish

📖 Overview

This species is a scraper and has been recorded to graze upon epilithic algae growing on rocky and calcareous substrata at 10-25 m depth. The males are solitary, whereas the females may be seen alone or in couples and accompanied by juveniles. These juveniles are small, about 2-5 cm, and associate with mixed groups of the labrids Halichoeres penrosei and Thalassoma noronhanum, which have a similar colour pattern. This association may be considered as a form of social mimicry .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. This species is distinguished from its Southwestern Atlantic congeners by the following unique colour characters: initial phase (IP) is red overall with a brownish shade from lower jaw to over the abdominal cavity, sparse orange blotches on head, and a pale circumpeduncular band. The terminal phase (TP) on the other hand is reddish brown with orange stripe from jaw angle to end of preopercle, sparse orange blotches on head, with 3 pinkish to reddish stripes from about midline to dorsum, from midline to belly pale greyish green to whitish with suffusion of pale reddish brown, a black spot on base of pectoral fins and a bright-yellow blotch below this spot. Furthermore, mitochondrial 12S and 16S rRNA loci sequences do not match any known Sparisoma species .

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Trindade parrotfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 25 m . Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute