Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
Scaridae | Sparisoma rubripinne | (Valenciennes) | 1840 | Yellowtail Parrotfish |
Sparisoma rubripinne
Unique Characters: 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. 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.
Similar Species:
Redtail Parrotfish
Sparisoma chrysopterum
Bucktooth Parrotfish
Sparisoma radians
Redtail Parrotfish Sparisoma chrysopterum. 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. 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. 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. No black spot at upper base of pectoral fin.
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