from tKe reei toward ths. plain '•rixere they began to graze. On the 

 plain S. aurofrenatnm was observed eating Udotea, wbich was 

 bitten off in large pieces. In general individuals of this 

 species seemed nnconcerned about the presence of divers, often 

 coming to within inches to feed on samples of plants brought to 

 the reef from the algal plain. Among an assortment of nine plant 

 species , a young S^. aurof renatum repeatedly selected Halimeda 

 incrassata , twice sampled Udotea verticillosa , and once nibbled 

 Lobophora during 15 minutes of observation. On another occasion, 

 among samples of 12 plant species, a young redband parrotfish first 

 tried Laurencia , then lobophora, to which it returned three times, 

 then moved to Udotea , and finally to Halimeda incrassata where it 

 remained eating for several minutes, even driving away S^. croicensis 

 of equivalent size that showed interest in the Halimeda . A second 

 S_. aurofrenatirm arrived during the observation and fed compatibly 

 with a S. viride on a clump of Lobophora . This species commonly 

 grazed on filamentous algae on the surface of the habitat. 



Randall (1967) found 9 7.8% algae in the stomach contents of 11 

 specimens, including 6 filamentous and 2 fleshy species, as well as 

 1.3% of the sea grass, Syringodium filiforme . 



Sparisoma rubripinne (Valenciennes) . Yellowtail Parrotfish 



This species was often seen grazing on the algal plain northwest of 

 the habitat in approximately 12 m depth, apparently feeding on species 

 of Udotea and their epiphytes, as well as the sea grass, Syringodium . 



Randall (1967) examined 18 specimens and found 92.6% algae in the 

 stomach contents including 14 filamentous, 5 fleshy, 2 leafy, and 

 one calcareous species, as well as 7.0% of the sea grass, Thalassia . 

 Habits of S_. rubripinne are described in detail by Randall and 

 Randall (1963) . 



Sparisoma viride (Bonnaterre) . Stoplight Parrotfish 



This species was occasionally seen on the reef and the adjacent 

 algal plain. During feeding trails, S^. viride sampled the brown 

 alga Lobophora variegata . Randall (1967) found 97.3% algae in the 

 stomach contents of 20 specimens, including 8 filamentous, 2 leafy, 

 and 2 fleshy species, plus 2.5% of the sea grass, Thalassia . 



Longley and Hildebrand (1941) observed S^. viride eating algae, and 

 Beebee and Tee-Van (1928) recorded food of this species as "un- 

 recognizable detritus." 



VI-150 



