MASTERS OF THE WATER-BONY FISHES 259 



Hahits: This fish and similar parrot fishes swim with other parrot fishes or 

 with tang and goatfish, grazing about reefs, and on the sand near reefs, on 

 animal and plant substances. 



Similar Species: The mud parrot fish, Sfarisoma flavescens, is a dingy gray- 

 brown to olivaceous. The scales are clearly outlined. It is small, up to 1 foot, and 

 found in the West Indies. 



The green parrot fish, (loro verde) Sparisoma viride Qcolor fhotograph^, is 

 very common in the West Indies. It is a dull greenish color, but the tail is a bril- 

 liant, bright green with several large orange scales at its base and a blue posterior 

 margin. It reaches Wi feet or more. 



BLUE PARROT FISH (clamacore) : Scurus coeruleus— Figure 147 



Size: Up to 3 feet. Averages 1 to IV2 feet. 



Distribution: West Indies to Florida. Straggles rarely to the Chesapeake. 



Identification: The members of this genus have a lower jaw that is shorter than 

 the upper. The beak is either whitish or rosy, and the scales on the head are 

 rather numerous. Some of them grow to large size. This species has the mouth 

 placed noticeably under the snout and is a beautiful, uniform sky-blue in color. 

 Older individuals have long outer tail-fin rays and a very pronounced swollen 

 snout. 



Hahits: The larger members of this genus are lumbering in their movements 

 as are the larger members of the following genus (^Pseudoscarus^. This species 

 has the widest range and is perhaps the most common of all parrot fishes, par- 

 ticularly over outer reefs. It may often be seen swimming in small groups around 

 the base of coral heads, feeding in sand or on the coral. 



Similar Species: The blue parrot fish (oldwife, vieja), Scarus vetula, is a very 

 striking predominantly blue fish. The jaws are edged with light blue and red. 

 The tail and pectoral fins are edged with a reddish color, and the pelvic fins are 

 yellow to red. It reaches 2 feet or more in length and is common in the West 

 Indies. 



The white-banded parrot fish, Scarus gnathodus, is a wine-brown with a very 

 wide lateral white stripe. It grows to a little over a foot and is fairly common in 

 the West Indies. 



The painted parrot fish (ribbon parrot fish), Scarus punctulatus, is a lovely 

 little West Indian fish which is commonly seen in small groups. It reaches only 

 10 to 12 inches in length at most and has two green stripes on the head above 

 and below the eye. 



The mud-belly, Scarus croicensis Ccolor photo grapK), reaches only 10 inches, 

 is brownish to slate-blue with a light belly, and usually has two light bands 

 running horizontally on the sides and a yellowish area on the nose. It is fairly 

 common from the West Indies to Florida. 



rainbow parrot fish (guacamaia): Pseudoscarus guacamaia— Color Plate 8 



Size: The largest parrot fish. Averages a little over a foot. Up to over 3 feet. 



Distribution: West Indies to Florida. 



Identification: Members of this comparatively small genus are like Scarus 

 species but have distinctly green or blue beaks. This species is of very gaudy 

 coloration, especially when adult. The young are greenish with a brown spot 



