Sparisoma aurofrenatum

Family	Scientific Name	Author	Year	Common Name
Scaridae	Sparisoma aurofrenatum	(Valenciennes)	1840	Redband Parrotfish

All Sparisoma Species: Teeth fused to form beak-like plates, either with teeth visible on the margin or without individual teeth visible. Body depth contained 2.5-3 times in standard length. Jaws with underbite (front edge of lower jaw outside upper jaw when mouth is closed). Median predorsal scales 4.

Sparisoma aurofrenatum

Unique Characteristics: No black spot at upper base of pectoral fin. Gill rakers 10-16. Two midventral scales between pelvic fins on ventral surface near pelvic-fin base. Saddle-shaped white marking crossing dorsum immediately behind last dorsal ray; horizontally elongate white marking on center of operculum. Females with dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins red; males green with black margin on caudal fin and distinct line of orange color below eye.

Similar Species:

Greenblotch Parrotfish, Sparisoma atomarium

Greenblotch Parrotfish, Sparisoma atomarium. No black spot at upper base of pectoral fin. Gill rakers 10-16. Single median scale between pelvic fins on ventral surface near pelvic-fin base. Squarish dark blotch posterior to gill cover above pectoral-fin base

Redtail Parrotfish, Sparisoma chrysopterum

Redtail Parrotfish, Sparisoma chrysopterum. A pronounced black spot at upper base of pectoral fin. Pectoral fin entirely pale, clear in fresh specimens. Gill rakers 15-20. Fleshy flap from rim of anterior nostril usually simple and ribbon-like, sometimes with a fringe around extremity. Terminal males mainly green-blue; initial phase mottled reddish.

Bucktooth Parrotfish, Sparisoma radians

Bucktooth Parrotfish, Sparisoma radians. No black spot at upper base of pectoral fin. Gill rakers 10-16. Two midventral scales between pelvic fins on ventral surface near pelvic-fin base. Initial phase either striped with narrow dark lines on a lighter background, or mottled and non- descript; terminal male with black margin on caudal fin and blue stripe between mouth and eye

Yellowtail Parrotfish, Sparisoma rubripinne

Yellowtail Parrotfish, Sparisoma rubripinne. A pronounced black spot at upper base of pectoral fin. Pectoral fin dark except for pale tip. Gill rakers 12-16. Fleshy flap at rim of anterior nostril greatly subdivided. Terminal males greenish overall, most fresh specimens have a yellow caudal fin.

Stoplight Parrotfish, Sparisoma viride

Stoplight Parrotfish, Sparisoma viride. No black spot at upper base of pectoral fin. Gill rakers 17-21. Initial-phase fish with a broad white bar basally on caudal fin; 3 rows of white spots on body; terminal males with round yellow spot above rear margin of gill cover.