Species: Sparisoma rubripinne, Yellowtail Parrotfish

Sparisoma rubripinne (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840)

Yellowtail Parrotfish

Body elongate but robust, somewhat compressed; head relatively blunt; convex between eyes; flap at front nostril with 12-20 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 17; dorsal fin IX, 10, spine membranes with many cirri, but may be only 1 cirrus in large adults, no notch between spines and rays; anal fin III, 9; tail fin slightly concave in IP, more so in TP; scales large, smooth, 1 row on cheek, 4 scales on center of nape before dorsal fin; lateral line in 2 sections.

Initial phase: pale grey brown, scale edges dark; tail base and tail fin yellow; pelvic and anal fin with a reddish tint. Terminal phase: grey green head, body and most of fins; iris red; sometimes a pale (or yellowish) area along flank; a dark blotch at base of pectoral fin; tail fin with a pale (sometimes yellow) crescent at rear.

Reaches 48 cm; up to at least 6 years.

On reefs, and adjacent seagrass and algal beds.

Depth range: 0-60 m.

Bermda to the S Caribbean.