Rainbow parrotfish
Encyclopedia
The rainbow parrotscfishies (Scarus guacamaia) is a species of fish
in the Scaridae family. Among the largest members of this family (the largest in the Atlantic), it reaches 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in length. It is found at coral reef
s, mangrove
s and sea grass beds in the Caribbean
and at Bermuda
. It was formerly classified as vulnerable
due to overfishing
and habitat loss, but because the presently available data does not allow an estimate of the population decline, it is now considered Data Deficient
by the IUCN. It is relatively rare in most of its range, but more common in Bermuda.
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
in the Scaridae family. Among the largest members of this family (the largest in the Atlantic), it reaches 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in length. It is found at coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
s, mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s and sea grass beds in the Caribbean
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
and at Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
. It was formerly classified as vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
due to overfishing
Overfishing
Overfishing occurs when fishing activities reduce fish stocks below an acceptable level. This can occur in any body of water from a pond to the oceans....
and habitat loss, but because the presently available data does not allow an estimate of the population decline, it is now considered Data Deficient
Data Deficient
Data Deficient is a category applied by the IUCN, other agencies, and individuals to a species when the available information is not sufficient for a proper assessment of conservation status to be made...
by the IUCN. It is relatively rare in most of its range, but more common in Bermuda.