Sparisoma cretense

The Mediterranean parrotfish (''Sparisoma cretense'') is a species of parrotfish found at depths up to along rocky shores in the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic, from Portugal south to Senegal. It is generally common, but uncommon or rare (locally even absent) in the northwestern Mediterranean and in the Adriatic Sea.Dulcic & Pallaoro (2001). Some new data on Xyrichthys novacula (Linnaeus, 1758) and Sparisoma (Euscarus) cretense (Linnaeus, 1758) from the eastern Adriatic. Annales 1: 35-42. It prefers relatively warm temperatures and there is an ongoing northward range expansion, probably because of global warming.Astruch, Bonhomme, Goujard, Rouanet, Boudouresque, Harmelin & Harmelin-Vivien (2016). Provence and Mediterranean warning: The parrotfish Sparisoma cretense is coming. Rapp. Comm. int. Mer Médit. 41: 362. The primary adult habitat is rocky reefs, especially in areas with macroalgae, but they may visit adjacent seagrass patches. Juveniles also occur more widely in the latter habitat.Espino, González, Haroun & Tuya (2015). Abundance and biomass of the parrotfish Sparisoma cretense in seagrass meadows: temporal and spatial differences between seagrass interiors and seagrass adjacent to reefs. Environ Biol Fish 98: 121–133. Kalogirou, Corsini-Foka, Sioulas, Wennhage & Pihl (2010). Diversity, structure and function of fish assemblages associated with Posidonia oceanica beds in an area of the eastern Mediterranean Sea and the role of non-indigenous species. J Fish Biol. 77(10): 2338-2357.

In parts of its range it is a commercially important food fish. Although some populations have been affected by fishing pressure, it is not considered threatened. It has been studied in detail in parts of its range, including the Azores.Afonsoa, Moratoa & Santos (2008). Spatial patterns in reproductive traits of the temperate parrotfish Sparisoma cretense.'' Fisheries Research'' 90(1-3): 92-99.

Behavior

The Mediterranean parrotfish feeds primarily on epilithic and coralline algae, but may also take epiphytic algae (growing on seagrass) and small invertebrates. The jaws and dentition are specially adapted to this feeding.

It primarily breeds during the summer, from July to September, but breeding can occur as early as May and late as December. It is a diurnal fish, but spawning is around dawn or dusk and can occur in pairs or groups.de Girolamo, Scaggiante & Rasotto (1999). Social organization and sexual pattern in the Mediterranean parrotfish Sparisoma cretense (Teleostei: Scaridae).'' Marine Biology'' 135(2): 353-360. The pelagic eggs hatch into free-swimming larvae. The pelagic stage for the eggs and larvae is 50–60 days in '' Sparisoma'' parrotfish, after which they settle on rocky reefs and among seagrass.Domingues, Alexandrou, Almada, Robertson, Brito, Santos & Bernardi (2008). Tropical fishes in a temperate sea: evolution of the wrasse Thalassoma pavo and the parrotfish Sparisoma cretensein the Mediterranean and the adjacent Macaronesian and Cape Verde Archipelagos. Mar Biol 154: 465–474.

Appearance

As its relatives, this parrotfish starts as female and then changes to male (known as the terminal phase). However, unlike most of its relatives, it is a secondary gonochorist. This means that some females do not change sex (they remain females throughout their lives), the ones that do change from female to male do it while still immature (reproductively functioning females do not change to males) and there are no males with female-like colours (known as initial phase males in other parrotfish).

Juveniles less than long are mottled with a yellowish head and have undifferentiated gonads (not male or female). Immatures that are long are mottled brownish and have immature female gonads (ovaries). If stressed, they adopt a pattern with broad horizontal white stripes. At larger sizes, the adult colours appear and the male or female gonads are mature. The adult females are red with a yellow-edged greyish saddle shape on the back and a yellow spot at the base of the tail. The males are overall greyish with paler underparts and no distinctive markings, although typically with blackish bars on the throat and opercular.Debelius, H. (1997). ''Mediterranean and Atlantic Fish Guide: From Spain to Turkey - From Norway to South Africa'', p. 221. ConchBooks. .Sparisoma cretense
Observadores del Mar, Mediterranean Fishes. Retrieved 11 March 2018. Adults reach a maximum length of about ,Morato, T., P. Afonso, P. Lourinho, J.P. Barreiros, R.S. Santos & R.D.M. Nash 2001. Length-weight relationships for 21 coastal fish species of the Azores, north-eastern Atlantic. Fisheries Research, 50: 297-302. but most are long. There is an almost complete overlap in the sizes of the adult females and adult males, although the former are on average smaller than the latter.

Human usage

''Sparisoma cretense'' is a quarry of spearfishers in the Canary Islands. In other parts of its range it is caught and sold as bycatch.

File:Sparisoma cretense Koufonissi juvenile.JPG, Juvenile
File:Sparisoma cretense Koufonissi.JPG, Immature
File:Viejas frescas - Port of Playa Blanca - Lanzarote -B13.jpg, Several males and females on sale at a fish market in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain

References

Further reading

*Projecto CLIPE – Efeitos climáticos na ecologia de peixes litorais limate effect on the ecology of coastal fishes

External links

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{{Taxonbar, from=Q589463

cretense
Fish of the Atlantic Ocean
Fish of the Mediterranean Sea
Fish of West Africa
Fish described in 1758
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus