About Scarus guacamaia Cuvier, 1829
Scarus guacamaia (common name rainbow parrotfish) is the second largest parrotfish species, after the humphead parrotfish. It is the largest parrotfish found in the Atlantic, reaching up to 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in length, 20 kg in weight, and a maximum age of 16 years. It has an overall greenish-brown colouration, with dull orange fins that feature green patches, and blue-green dental plates. Male and female individuals of this species look identical. It is most closely related to two other large-bodied parrotfish species: Scarus coelestinus and Scarus trispinosus. This species has a relatively wide distribution across the western Atlantic, ranging from Bermuda, through South Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean, to Venezuela. It inhabits coral reefs, mangroves and sea grass beds in shallow waters, at depths between 3 and 25 m. Scarus guacamaia is primarily a detritivore, feeding on detritus, bacterial colonies and meiofauna, though it also consumes sponges. Young rainbow parrotfish mostly recruit to mangrove habitats.
