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| genus_authority = [[William Swainson|Swainson]], 1839
| genus_authority = [[William Swainson|Swainson]], 1839
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text.
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
}}
'''''Sparisoma''''' is a genus of eleven [[parrotfish]]es native to the [[Atlantic]]. They are the main grazers of [[alga]]e in the [[Caribbean]], for [[sea urchin]]s, the former main grazers, experienced a mass extinction and was supplanted by the parrotfishes.
'''''Sparisoma''''' is a [[genera|genus]] of eleven [[parrotfish]]es native to the [[Atlantic]]. They are the main grazers of [[alga]]e in the [[Caribbean]] since [[sea urchin]]s, the former main grazers, experienced a mass extinction and was supplanted by the parrotfishes.


The name was proposed by [[William Swainson]] as a subgenus of ''[[Scarus]]''. "Sparus" in [[Latin]] is a golden-headed fish, and "soma" means "body". The common spelling "Sparisomus" is incorrect.
The name was proposed by [[William Swainson]] as a subgenus of ''[[Scarus]]''. "Sparus" in [[Latin]] is a golden-headed fish, and "soma" means "body". The common spelling "Sparisomus" is incorrect.
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The size of [[parrotfish]]es of the genus ''Sparisoma'' range from the rather regular-sized ''Sparisoma radians'' with a known maximum length of 20 cm to the very large ''Sparisoma rubripinne'', which reaches lengths of up to 47.8 cm.
The size of [[parrotfish]]es of the genus ''Sparisoma'' range from the rather regular-sized ''Sparisoma radians'' with a known maximum length of 20 cm to the very large ''Sparisoma rubripinne'', which reaches lengths of up to 47.8 cm.


The most well-known parrotfish from the genus ''Sparisoma'' is the [[Spotlight Parrotfish]], ''Sparisoma viride''. It is a fish that can change sex, as is with many of the fish from the genus ''Sparisoma''. Like all other parrotfishes, it uses its [[pectoral fin]]s to move: the [[caudal fin]] is reserved for rapid bursts of speed. It is most well-known, probably because it was the first to be classified. Its range is from the [[Gulf of Mexico]] down to parts of [[South America]].
The most well-known parrotfish from the genus ''Sparisoma'' is the [[stoplight parrotfish]], ''Sparisoma viride''. It is a fish that can change sex, like many of the fish from the genus ''Sparisoma''. Like all other parrotfishes, it uses its [[pectoral fin]]s to move: the [[caudal fin]] is reserved for rapid bursts of speed. It is most well-known, probably because it was the first to be classified. Its range is from the [[Gulf of Mexico]] down to parts of [[South America]].


The genus ''Sparisoma'' is fairly successful, but populations have been falling somewhat because of overfishing and other human activities. However, as mentioned above, it is the main grazer of algae, but since populations have been falling, the coral reefs may be at risk, for it is now known that too much [[algae]] is deleterious to [[coral]].
The genus ''Sparisoma'' is fairly successful, but populations have been falling somewhat because of overfishing and other human activities. However, as mentioned above, it is the main grazer of algae, but since populations have been falling, the coral reefs may be at risk, for it is now known that too much [[algae]] is deleterious to [[coral]].


==Species==
==Species==
* ''[[Sparisoma amplum]]''
* ''[[Sparisoma amplum]]'' <small>(Ranzani, 1842)</small>
* ''[[Sparisoma atomarium]]'' ([[Greenblotch Parrotfish]])
* [[Greenblotch parrotfish]], ''[[Sparisoma atomarium]]'' <small>(Poey, 1861)</small>
* ''[[Sparisoma aurofrenatum]]'' ([[Redband Parrotfish]])
* [[Redband parrotfish]], ''[[Sparisoma aurofrenatum]]'' <small>(Valenciennes, 1840)</small>
* ''[[Sparisoma axillare]]''
* ''[[Sparisoma axillare]]'' <small>(Steindachner, 1878)</small>
* ''[[Sparisoma chrysopterum]]'' ([[Redtail Parrotfish]])
* [[Redtail parrotfish]], ''[[Sparisoma chrysopterum]]'' <small>(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)</small>
* ''[[Sparisoma cretense]]''
* ''[[Sparisoma cretense]]'' <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small>
* ''[[Sparisoma frondosum]]''
* ''[[Sparisoma frondosum]]'' <small>(Agassiz, 1831)</small>
* ''[[Sparisoma radians]]'' ([[Bucktooth Parrotfish]])
* ''[[Sparisoma griseorubrum]]'' <small>Cervigón, 1982</small>
* ''[[Sparisoma rubripinne]]'' ([[Redfin Parrotfish]])
* [[Bucktooth parrotfish]], ''[[Sparisoma radians]]'' <small>(Valenciennes, 1840)</small>
* ''[[Sparisoma tuiupiranga]]''
* [[Redfin parrotfish]], ''[[Sparisoma rubripinne]]'' <small>(Valenciennes, 1840)</small>
* [[Strigate parrotfish ]], ''[[Sparisoma strigatum]]'' <small>(Günther, 1862)</small>
* ''[[Sparisoma viride]]'' ([[Stoplight Parrotfish]])
* ''[[Sparisoma tuiupiranga]]'' <small>Gasparini, Joyeux & Floeter, 2003</small>
* [[Stoplight parrotfish]], ''[[Sparisoma viride]]'' <small>(Bonnaterre, 1788)</small>


==References==
==References==
* {{FishBase genus | genus = Sparisoma | month = November | year = 2005}}
* {{FishBase genus | genus = Sparisoma | month = March | year = 2006}}


[[Category:Scaridae]]
[[Category: Scaridae]]

Revision as of 11:13, 5 July 2006

Sparisoma
Scientific classification
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Genus:
Sparisoma

Swainson, 1839
Species

See text.

Sparisoma is a genus of eleven parrotfishes native to the Atlantic. They are the main grazers of algae in the Caribbean since sea urchins, the former main grazers, experienced a mass extinction and was supplanted by the parrotfishes.

The name was proposed by William Swainson as a subgenus of Scarus. "Sparus" in Latin is a golden-headed fish, and "soma" means "body". The common spelling "Sparisomus" is incorrect.

The size of parrotfishes of the genus Sparisoma range from the rather regular-sized Sparisoma radians with a known maximum length of 20 cm to the very large Sparisoma rubripinne, which reaches lengths of up to 47.8 cm.

The most well-known parrotfish from the genus Sparisoma is the stoplight parrotfish, Sparisoma viride. It is a fish that can change sex, like many of the fish from the genus Sparisoma. Like all other parrotfishes, it uses its pectoral fins to move: the caudal fin is reserved for rapid bursts of speed. It is most well-known, probably because it was the first to be classified. Its range is from the Gulf of Mexico down to parts of South America.

The genus Sparisoma is fairly successful, but populations have been falling somewhat because of overfishing and other human activities. However, as mentioned above, it is the main grazer of algae, but since populations have been falling, the coral reefs may be at risk, for it is now known that too much algae is deleterious to coral.

Species

References

  • Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Sparisoma". FishBase. March 2006 version.