Sparisoma cretense
Encyclopedia
Sparisoma cretense, the Mediterranean parrotfish, is a species of fish found at depths down to 50 metres (164 ft) along rocky shores of the Mediterranean and the east Atlantic from Portugal
south to Senegal
. Although some populations have been affected by fishing-pressure, it is quite common locally, for example at the Azores
, where its behavior has been studied in detail.
It breeds during the summer, from July to September. It is a diurnal fish, but spawning
, which occurs both in pairs and in groups, happens around dawn
or dusk
. It feeds mostly on epilithic and coralline algae
, but also takes small invertebrates.
As its relatives, this parrotfish
starts as female (known as the initial phase) and then changes to male (the terminal phase). However, unlike most of its relatives, it is a secondary gonochorist, meaning that some females do not change sex, and the ones that do, change from female to male while still immature (i.e., reproductively functioning females do not change to males). The initial phase is red and yellow with a greyish saddle, while the terminal phase is overall greyish. It reaches a maximum length of 50 centimetres (19.7 in), and there is an almost complete overlap in the size of females and males, though the former averages smaller than the latter.
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
south to Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
. Although some populations have been affected by fishing-pressure, it is quite common locally, for example at the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
, where its behavior has been studied in detail.
It breeds during the summer, from July to September. It is a diurnal fish, but spawning
Spawn (biology)
Spawn refers to the eggs and sperm released or deposited, usually into water, by aquatic animals. As a verb, spawn refers to the process of releasing the eggs and sperm, also called spawning...
, which occurs both in pairs and in groups, happens around dawn
Dawn
Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the presence of weak sunlight, while the sun itself is still below the horizon...
or dusk
Dusk
Dusk is the beginning of darkness in the evening, and occurs after twilight, when the sky generally remains bright and blue. Civil dusk is when the earth has rotated enough that the center of the sun is at 6° below the local horizon...
. It feeds mostly on epilithic and coralline algae
Coralline algae
Coralline algae are red algae in the order Corallinales. They are characterized by a thallus that is hard because of calcareous deposits contained within the cell walls...
, but also takes small invertebrates.
As its relatives, this parrotfish
Parrotfish
Parrotfishes are a group of fishes that traditionally had been considered a family , but now often are considered a subfamily of the wrasses. They are found in relatively shallow tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, but with the largest species richness in the Indo-Pacific...
starts as female (known as the initial phase) and then changes to male (the terminal phase). However, unlike most of its relatives, it is a secondary gonochorist, meaning that some females do not change sex, and the ones that do, change from female to male while still immature (i.e., reproductively functioning females do not change to males). The initial phase is red and yellow with a greyish saddle, while the terminal phase is overall greyish. It reaches a maximum length of 50 centimetres (19.7 in), and there is an almost complete overlap in the size of females and males, though the former averages smaller than the latter.