Species: Sparisoma radians, Bucktooth Parrotfish

Sparisoma radians (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840)

Bucktooth Parrotfish

Body elongate, oval, somewhat compressed; flap at front nostril simple, with no cirri in adult; teeth fused into a beak with broad plates, outer surface of plates rough with individual teeth visible, partly covered by lips; front edge of top jaw inside front edge of lower jaw when mouth is closed; 1-2 canines on rear side of top jaw; large crushing plates of molar teeth form “pharyngeal mill” in throat; gill rakers 10-13; dorsal fin IX, 10, spine membranes with several cirri, no notch between spines and rays; anal fin III, 9; tail fin convex in both color phases; scales large, smooth, 1 row on cheek, 4 scales on center of nape before dorsal fin; 2 scales on centerline before pelvic fins; lateral line in 2 sections.

Initial phase: greenish brown above, creamy white below; a greenish blotch just behind operculum that includes base of pectoral fin; genital papilla pink; no dark spot at front of dorsal fin. Terminal phase: Greenish brown above, yellowish grey below, although throat and lower belly may be yellow; an opalescent spot just behind eye, lower edge of eye blue, a blue stripe from eye to tip of top jaw, a reddish stripe under that; black under throat, base of pectoral fin black; outer edges of soft dorsal and anal fins and rear edge of tail fin broadly black.

Reaches 20 cm.

Algal and seagrass beds.

Depth range: 0-130 m; usually < 10 m.

Bermuda to Brazil.