HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesStoplight parrotfish Stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) Scientific name: Sparisoma viride Bonnaterre, 1788 The Stoplight parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) is a marine fish of the family Scaridae. Native range: Western Atlantic, southern Florida (USA), Bermuda, Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean Sea to Brazil. BiologyInhabits coral reefs with clear water. Young may be found in seagrass beds and other heavily vegetated bottoms. Feeds mainly on soft algae, but has been observed to graze on live corals like, Montastraea annularis. Produces a significant amount of sediment through bioerosion using its strong beak-like jaws and constantly re-growing teeth. Protogynous; strictly diurnal, spends the night sleeping on the bottom. Found singly or small in small groups.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameSparisoma virideFamilyScaridae (Parrotfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length64.0Common length38.0Depth range3–50 m (10–164 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 50 mClimateSubtropicalDistributionWestern Atlantic: southern Florida (USA), Bermuda, Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean Sea to Brazil.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansReports of ciguatera poisoningUsesFisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=9; k >0.30) More wrassesRedfin parrotfishSparisoma rubripinneRedtail parrotfishSparisoma chrysopterumRedband parrotfishSparisoma aurofrenatumQueen parrotfishScarus vetulaPrincess parrotfishScarus taeniopterusRainbow parrotfishScarus guacamaiaSee all wrasses SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026