Parrotfishes & Wrasses

Redband Parrotfish

Sparisoma aurofrenatum

Species Overview

Fusiform parrotfish; dorsal fin IX,10, anal fin III,9. Adults of both sexes have a distinct white spot just behind the dorsal-fin base and two or more jet-black spots on the side above the pectoral fin (FishBase).

Habitat: Coral reefs; young usually in neighboring seagrass beds; often rests on the bottom (FishBase).
Diet: Herbivore, feeding on plants (FishBase).
Range: Throughout the Caribbean Sea, plus Bahamas, Florida, Bermuda and Gulf (ReefGuide); western Atlantic (FishBase).

Life stages

Juvenile; Initial phase: brown to greenish-brown with dark blue cast on back and sides, red below; can show a mottled night pattern; Terminal phase (super male): red line from mouth corner to below rear of eye (FishBase). ReefGuide photographs juvenile, initial (incl. mottled night pattern) and terminal phases.

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TL means total length; SL excludes the tail fin; FL measures to the tail fork. These measurements are not interchangeable.