|
|
| The parrotfishes are a particularly abundant
segment of the fauna around Caribbean coral reefs, especially in beds of seagrass
or macroalgae. They are typically the predominant vertebrate herbivores on and
off of the reef. The taxonomy of scarids in the region is relatively simple: there
are four genera, but almost all of the species belong to the two large genera
Scarus spp. and Sparisoma
spp. The two remaining parrotfishes comprise the monotypic Cryptotomus
roseus in addition to Nicholsina
usta, one of a pair of sibling species in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. |
| | | Larval
scarids share most of their basic features with their labrid
relatives, such as a long and continuous dorsal and anal fin with flexible spines,
a relatively wide caudal peduncle, the absence of spines on the head, stub-like
pelvic fins, a pointed snout and small terminal mouth, and typically light markings.
However, they can be separated from labrids by having a row of melanophores along
or beneath the base of the anal fin, typically extending into the caudal peduncle.
A number of superficially-similar families share the anal fin row of melanophores,
but have many more dorsal and anal fin elements; twice as many in labrisomids,
chaenopsids, tripterygiids,
and dactyloscopids.
They also have narrower caudal peduncles, larger mouths, and long pelvic fins.
| | | | The
parrotfish family is remarkably uniform in many aspects and they all share the
invariant fin ray count of D-IX,10 A-III,9. Given the morphological similarity
of conspecifics in this family, it is very likely that only DNA sequence analyses
will permit identification to the species level in larval specimens of Scarus
spp. and Sparisoma spp. | | |
| Pre-transitional
scarid larvae can have eyes that are a narrowed vertical oval, often markedly
narrowed. This character is shared by larval razorfishes, Xyrichtys
spp., and some larval gobies.
The eye becomes fully round in larval scarids, usually just before the onset of
transitional markings. | | | |
|
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
Fin ray counts of D-IX,10 A-III,9 are shared by all Caribbean parrotfishes,
however a mode of 14-16 pectoral fin rays indicates Scarus spp. The remaining
parrotfishes Sparisoma spp.,
Cryptotomus roseus, and
Nicholsina usta all have
13 pectoral fin rays, while the similar-appearing wrasse Doratonotus
megalepis shares the median fin ray count but has only 11-12 pectoral
fin rays. There are six Caribbean species of the genus Scarus with some
separation by pectoral fin ray count: Scarus iserti
and S. taeniopterus have 13-14 pectoral
fin rays with a mode of 14, S. vetula has
14 or rarely 15, S. coeruleus usually has
15, and S. guacamaia and S. coelestinus have
16 pectoral fin rays. This larval type develops into Scarus
iserti when raised in captivity, but almost certainly includes the other
Scarus spp. Separating the larvae of those species with overlapping pectoral
fin ray counts would require DNA sequence analysis. (R) | |
| Analogues:
Wider bodied Scarus spp. larvae resemble the labrid Doratonotus
megalepis, but have a row of melanophores along the base of the anal fin.
Transitional larvae of the two taxa have differing patterns of melanophores on
the head. | |
| Description:
Body relatively thin, typically long and narrow with a large eye and a terminal
small mouth (some individuals are more wide-bodied and leaf-shaped and are presumably
approaching transition). Pectoral fins short and pelvic fins stubs in pre-transitional
larvae. Dorsal and anal fin bases relatively long, caudal peduncle short and relatively
wide. Lightly marked; an irregular row of up to 12 melanophores along or beneath
the base of the anal fin extending into the caudal peduncle. There is marked variability
in the line-up of this row of melanophores. The typical pattern for the first
seven melanophores is the first three after the vent are embedded in the body
and not along the base of the anal fin rays and the next four are located at the
base of the fin rays and can be expanded and appear larger than the rest (i.e.
3+4, sometimes 4+3). The next in the row is usually well above the fin ray base
and the then last four are in a row starting near the base of the last fin ray
slanting up into the caudal peduncle musculature. Many individuals are missing
some of the row of melanophores, some show as few as five. There is a variable
row (from none to 10, occasionally 20 or more) of tiny melanophores along the
dorsal midline of the caudal peduncle (often can be slightly offset and variably
paired), starting just behind the base of the last dorsal fin ray. Melanophores
occur internally around the gut near the vent and often there is an additional
melanophore around the gut well above the vent along the posterior peritoneum.
Series of transitional larvae show development of the eye from a narrowed vertical
oval, usually tilted forward with a sometimes marked posterior-inferior extension
of the iris, to large and round with a relatively small pupil at transition. Many
pre-transitional larvae have a ventral indentation in the iris, sometimes with
a dorsal indentation as well, and rare individuals have the narrowed eyes clearly
tilted backward. Some transitional individuals develop a particularly bulbous
eyeball with a tiny pupil. Transitional larvae develop a scattering of tiny melanophores
on the top of the head along with a bar of iridophores slanting upward from the
back of the eye and in a stripe from the eye to the pectoral fin base. On the
body, large leukophores develop along the base of the dorsal and anal fins and
three leukophore patches appear at the base of the upper, mid, and lower segmented
caudal fin rays. The larval row of melanophores along the anal fin base disappears.
Transitional recruits develop additional melanophores densely covering the top
of the braincase and a scattering on the snout and along the upper jaw and a stripe
angling upward from the rear of the eye. Additional melanophores develop in two
dense stripes along the body, wider below the lateral midline than above. Stripes
develop later along the base of the dorsal and anal fins. | |
|
|
| Scarus iserti +
larva | | 6.7 mm SL | | note
narrowed eye and wide body | | San Blas, Panama,
SB86-506 | |  | | |  |
| Scarus iserti +
larva | | 6.3 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-1103 | |  |
| Scarus iserti +
larva | 6.2 mm SL | | note
iris indentation and wide body | | San Blas,
Panama, SB87-201 | |  |
| Scarus iserti +
larvae | | 6.5 and 6.3 mm SL |
note variant above with narrow eye
tilted backwards,
variation in anal fin
base melanophores | | San
Blas, Panama, SB87-201 | |  | | |  | | |  |
| Scarus iserti +
larva | | 6.7 mm SL | | missing
many melanophores in anal fin row | | San
Blas, Panama, SB81-002 | |  |
| Scarus iserti +
early transitional larva | | 6.8 mm SL |
| fully-round eye before transitional markings |
| San Blas, Panama, SB86-516 | |  |
| Scarus iserti +
larva | | 6.9 mm SL | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-516 | |  |
| Scarus iserti +
larva | | 7.0 mm SL | variant
with numerous paired
melanophores on caudal peduncle | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-808 | |  |
| Scarus iserti +
transitional larva | | 6.9 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB81-001 | |  | | |  |
| Scarus iserti +
transitional recruit | | 6.9 mm SL |
| anterior body melanophores contracted |
| Barbados 81104, Henri Valles | |  | | |  |
| Scarus iserti +
transitional larva | | 6.9 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB81-001 | |  |
| | |
| |
|
| | Diagnosis:
Fin ray counts of D-IX,10 A-III,9 are shared by all Caribbean parrotfishes,
however pectoral fin ray counts divide parrotfishes into two groups: Sparisoma
spp., Cryptotomus roseus,
and Nicholsina usta all
have 13 pectoral fin rays, while Scarus
spp. have a mode of 14-16 pectoral fin rays (the wrasse Doratonotus
megalepis also shares the median fin ray count but has 11-12 pectoral
fin rays). The larvae of the seven Caribbean species of the genus Sparisoma
(S. atomarium, S.
aurofrenatum, S. chrysopterum,
S. radians, S.
rubripinne, and S. viride;
with S. griseorubra in Venezuela) are likely
indistinguishable from each other and separation requires DNA sequencing. Cryptotomus
roseus can be excluded since its larvae appear to be missing the characteristic
lateral melanophore on the body on each side just above the pelvic fin insertion
(but see its larval description below). Species differences that occur after transition
are noted in the individual species descriptions that follow. Larval Nicholsina
usta cannot be excluded from the type until those larvae are identified
(adults of the species are not found at the collection site in Panama). (R) |
| | Note:
the colors, patterns, and markings of juvenile Sparisoma
spp. are remarkably variable and changeable with habitat and mood, indeed
juveniles can change from blotchy to striped to bars to uniformly green as one
observes them in the field. Background color varies widely from reddish to salmon
to yellow to green. Overall, juvenile Sparisoma spp.
show variations in degree of the same general pattern of blotches and body stripes
(which often break up into spots) that are characteristic of the genus. Nevertheless,
there are some diagnostic markings in small juveniles that can help to separate
the species. DNA sequencing is underway at present to identify the species-specific
features of juvenile markings in this genus. | |
| Analogues:
| |
| Description:
Body relatively thin, long and narrow with a large eye and a terminal small mouth.
Pectoral fins short and pelvic fins usually stubs. Dorsal and anal fin bases relatively
long, caudal peduncle short and somewhat narrow. Melanophores consist of one on
the body on each side just above the pelvic fin insertion, internally around the
gut near the vent, and in a row of 13 discrete round melanophores along or often
below the base of the anal fin and extending into the caudal peduncle (some larvae
have only 12, missing the first in the series). The melanophores in the row after
the last anal fin ray are not at the ventral midline but well into the caudal
peduncle musculature. Series of transitional larvae show development of the eye
from a narrowed vertical oval tilted forward (sometimes backwards or no tilt)
with a small posterior-inferior extension of the iris to larger and round with
a smaller pupil at and after transition (eye usually becomes fully round just
before transitional markings appear). Many pre-transitional larvae have a marked
ventral indentation in the iris. A small fraction of larval collections show individuals
with head and eye abnormalities including exophthalmos and a pronounced bulbous
head. It is unclear whether these are artifacts of collection or true abnormalities.
Some transitional larvae first develop two prominent leukophore patches above
and below the midline at the base of the segmented caudal fin rays and then the
anal fin row of melanophores start to disappear. Others acquire melanophores first,
typically around the eye and on the first dorsal and anal fin elements and the
pelvic fin. Early transitional larvae or recruits develop tiny leukophores along
the first dorsal spines and then in patches spaced along the base of some dorsal
and anal fin rays. A central patch of leukophores starts to develop on the base
of the caudal fin rays and then variably coalesces with the upper and lower patches
into a white bar. Surface melanophores appear scattered over the top of the head
and anterior upper body and often in patches along the base of the anal fin rays
(these patches of tiny surface melanophores are distinct from the large larval
melanophores). Melanophores also develop along the first dorsal spines and the
proximal pelvic fin rays with leukophores on the more distal portions of the spines
and rays. Mid transitional larvae or recruits continue to develop a bar of melanophores
below the front of the eyeball and a stripe forward of the eye which branches
down to the middle of the lower jaw and up across the mid-upper jaw to the tip
of the lower jaw. Melanophores develop in two upward-angled stripes from the top
and rear of the eyeball and a downward-angled stripe develops rearward from the
eye across the cheek. A stripe of iridophores develops slanting upward from the
back of the eye and in a stripe slanting down across the cheek just above the
melanophore stripe. Melanophores continue to develop in discrete patches along
the base of the dorsal fin and intensify along the base of the anal fin. Markings
on the body develop from anterior to posterior, particularly along the lateral
midline. The characteristic larval melanophore over the pelvic fin insertion is
lost. Late transitional recruits show a variety of patterning on the lateral body,
mostly in irregular patches and bars but with variants showing 1) additional fine
melanophores outlining myomeres, 2) a uniform spotting of small melanophores (S.
viride only ?), or 3) an irregular mid-lateral stripe. There appear to
be few consistent differences in this pattern among species until the juvenile
stage (about 12 to 14 mm SL) when some distinctions start to develop. Sparisoma
spp. recruits are notable for expanding first in body depth and girth for
the first two weeks or so after settlement and then beginning to increase in length. |
| |
|
| Sparisoma sp.
larva | | 9.3 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending | | San Blas, Panama, SB84-522 |
|  | | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
larva | | 9.2 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending | | San Blas, Panama, SB86-825 |
|  |
| Sparisoma sp.
larva | | 9.9 mm SL | | characteristic
rear melanophore pattern | | San Blas, Panama,
SB86-413 | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
larva | | 9.1 mm SL | | narrowed
eye, DNA ID pending | | San Blas, Panama,
SB86-825 | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
larva | | 8.7 mm SL | | iris
extension, DNA ID pending | | San Blas, Panama,
SB82-020 | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
larva | | 9.1 mm SL | | round
eye before any transitional markings | | San Blas,
Panama, SB87-117 | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
transitional larva | | 9.3 mm SL |
loss of some anal row melanophores
DNA ID pending |
| San Blas, Panama, SB86-422 | |  | | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
early transitional larva | | 9.9 mm SL |
eye already round with a small pupil
DNA ID pending |
| Barbados 100802, Henri Valles | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
transitional larva | | 9.8 mm SL |
head and fin melanophores developing
DNA ID pending |
| San Blas, Panama, SB81-037 | |  |
| Sparisoma sp. transitional
larva | | 9.9 mm SL | head
and fin melanophores developing
DNA ID pending | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-506 | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
late transitional larva | | 10.0 mm SL |
| DNA ID pending | | San
Blas, Panama, SB81-002 | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
early transitional recruit | | 9.2 mm SL |
mostly leukophores, a fine scattering of
anterior and head melanophores
DNA ID pending | | Barbados
81104, Henri Valles | |  |
| Sparisoma viride
early transitional recruit | | 9.9 mm SL |
lightly marked anteriorly, captured with
S.
viride series, DNA ID pending | | SB81-062 |
|  |
| Sparisoma sp.
early transitional recruit | | 9.1 mm SL |
variant with irregular lateral stripe and
abdominal midline melanophore
patch
DNA ID pending | | Barbados 81104,
Henri Valles | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
mid transitional recruit | | 9.9 mm SL |
variant with anterior markings and anal fin
base
melanophore patches
DNA ID pending | | Barbados
62903, Henri Valles | |  | | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
mid transitional recruit | | 9.0 mm SL |
| DNA ID pending | | Barbados
81104, Henri Valles | |  |
| Sparisoma sp.
late transitional recruit | | 9.8 mm SL |
variant with prominent myomere outlining
DNA
ID pending | | Barbados 62903, Henri Valles |
|  | | |  |
| Sparisoma spp.
early transitional recruits | with head
and eye abnormalities
including exophthalmos and bulbous head
DNA ID pending |
| Barbados V0553, Henri Valles | |  |
| | |
| | |
|
| |
Diagnosis: The
larvae of all Sparisoma spp. may well be identical,
and DNA sequencing is required to identify species. Transitional recruits develop
the basic markings probably shared by all members of the genus, but small juveniles
of Sparisoma spp. acquire distinct patterns
that separate most, if not all, regional species. S.
viride diverges from the remainder of the genus the earliest, with some
individuals smaller than 10 mm SL showing a distinct pattern of markings, in particular
an undivided prominent white bar on the caudal fin base. | |
| Description:
This type shares the characteristic markings of larval and transitional
Sparisoma spp. Recruits become distinct early
on when the leukophores on the base of their caudal fin coalesce into a distinct
white bar and they develop rows of round white spots, with the two above the pectoral
fin most visible. Characteristically, there are no melanophores extending into
the white bar (at least until about 15 mm SL, but by then the white bar and rows
of white spots are clearly prominent). | | |
|
| Sparisoma viride
recruit | | 9.6 mm SL | | variant
with early spot/bar pattern | | DNA ID pending |
| Barbados 62903, Henri Valles | |  |
| Sparisoma viride
recruit | | 9.7 mm SL | | light
markings | | DNA ID pending |
| San Blas, Panama, SB81-077 | |  | | |  |
| Sparisoma viride
recruit | | 11.0 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending | | San Blas, Panama, SB81-077 |
|  | | |  |
| Sparisoma viride
recruits | | 11.0 mm and 9.7 mm SL |
| note no melanophores into caudal bar |
| DNA ID pending | | San
Blas, Panama, SB81-077 | |  |
| Sparisoma viride
juvenile | | 12.3 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending | | San Blas, Panama, SB81-062 |
|  |
| Sparisoma viride
juveniles | | 14.9 and 13.0 mm SL |
| San Blas, Panama, SB81-060 | |  |
| Sparisoma viride
juvenile | | 15.6 mm SL | after
15 mm SL there is some extension
of melanophores into caudal bar |
| DNA ID pending | | San
Blas, Panama, SB80-091 | |  |
| | |
| |
|
| Diagnosis:
The larvae of all Sparisoma spp. may well
be identical, and DNA sequencing is required to identify species. Transitional
recruits develop the basic markings probably shared by all members of the genus,
but small juveniles of Sparisoma spp. acquire
distinct patterns that separate most, if not all, regional species.
The DNA sequence of the juvenile specimen from Noronha in Brazil confirms that
it is S. radians (Bernardi et al 2005), even
though it displays a peculiar pattern of markings. S.
atomarium may be indistinguishable from S.
radians when juvenile specimens are found in the same habitat. |
| | Description:
This type shares the characteristic markings of larval and transitional Sparisoma
spp. Recruits become distinct from S.
viride early as melanophores extend onto the base of the central caudal
fin rays and divide the light bar on the tail. The melanophores extending into
the caudal bar extend further below the midline than above (vs. equal above and
below in S. chrysopterum/rubripinne).
Small juveniles tend to have dark patches along the lateral midline mostly below
the level of the lateral line and do not develop an obvious white tail bar. Some
individuals develop a marked bicolor pattern of light above the lateral line and
dark below. Later juveniles are variably mottled with some light striping and
spotting and are only identified by process of exclusion (or DNA sequence analysis).
Individuals from Noronha in Brazil show a pattern of reduced body markings and
intensified black markings on the fins. | | |
|
| Sparisoma radians
juvenile | | 13.3 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending | | San Blas, Panama, SB80-101 |
|  | | |  |
| Sparisoma radians
juvenile | | 16.5 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending | | San Blas, Panama, SB81-027 |
|  |
| Sparisoma radians
juvenile | | 17.8 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending | | San Blas, Panama, SB80-105 |
|  | | |  |
| Sparisoma radians
juvenile | | 18.0 mm SL | | DNA
ID confirmed | | Noronha, Brazil FN01 |
|  |
| Sparisoma sp.
juvenile | | 13.9 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending | | San Blas, Panama, SB80-102 |
|  |
| | |
| | |
|
| Diagnosis:
The larvae of all Sparisoma spp. may well
be identical, and DNA sequencing is required to identify species. Transitional
recruits develop the basic markings probably shared by all members of the genus,
but small juveniles of Sparisoma spp. acquire
distinct patterns that separate most, if not all, regional species.
S. chrysopterum and S.
rubripinne may have a similar appearance as juveniles. |
| Description:
This type shares the characteristic markings of larval and transitional Sparisoma
spp. Recruits become distinct from S.
radians and S. viride
as melanophores extend onto the base of the caudal fin and divide the light bar
on the tail. The tail melanophores extending into the caudal bar are roughly equal
both above and below the midline and the bar is still clearly white. Juveniles
are variably marked, but typically develop an alternating pattern of white and
dark bars. | | |
|
| Sparisoma chrysopterum
+ juvenile | | 14.0 mm SL |
| DNA ID pending | | San
Blas, Panama, SB81-062 | |  | | |  |
| Sparisoma chrysopterum
+ juvenile | | 13.3 mm SL |
| DNA ID pending | | San
Blas, Panama, SB80-103 | |  | | |  |
| | |
| |
|
|
| Diagnosis:
Fin ray counts of D-IX,10 A-III,9 are shared by all Caribbean parrotfishes,
however pectoral fin ray counts divide parrotfishes into two groups: Sparisoma
spp., Cryptotomus roseus, and Nicholsina
usta all have 13 pectoral fin rays, while Scarus
spp. have a mode of 14-16 pectoral fin rays (the wrasse Doratonotus
megalepis also shares the median fin ray count but has 11-12 pectoral
fin rays). This larval type develops into Cryptotomus
roseus when raised in captivity, but the demarkation between C.
roseus and Sparisoma spp.
is unclear. Larval Nicholsina
usta cannot be excluded from the type until those larvae are identified
(adults of the species are not found at the collection site in Panama). (R) |
| | Analogues:
C. roseus is primarily identified by the absence
of the characteristic lateral melanophore of Sparisoma
spp. in a pre-transitional larva (does not apply to transitional larvae).
Additional characters that may assist are the loss (or fading out) of one or more
of the last few anal row melanophores, which correlates well with no lateral melanophore
(also only applicable to pre-transitional larvae). Most C.
roseus larvae do have fewer than 13 melanophores in the anal fin row. Lastly,
the snout is usually sharply-pointed in this larval type. Unfortunately, transitional
Sparisoma spp. larvae can
lose their lateral melanophore and show a reduced complement of anal row melanophores:
thus the distinction becomes difficult at early transition before the metamorphic
melanophore pattern starts. Furthermore, there is the possibility that some rare
pre-transition Sparisoma spp.
do lack the lateral melanophore and/or the full 13 anal row melanophores (some
larvae have 12 in the row, but are missing the first and not the last). DNA sequence
analyses underway at present should resolve this potential overlap. |
| |
Description: Body
relatively thin, long and narrow with a large eye and a pointed snout and a terminal
small mouth. Pectoral fins medium. Pelvic fins very short. Dorsal and anal fin
bases relatively long, caudal peduncle short and somewhat narrow. Melanophores
occur internally around the gut near the vent, and in a row of 11, 12, or occasionally
13 (but rule out Sparisoma spp.
when 13) discrete round melanophores along the base of the anal fin and extending
into the caudal peduncle (often missing the last in the series). The melanophores
in the row after the last fin ray are not at the ventral midline but can be well
into the caudal peduncle musculature. Series of transitional larvae show development
of the eye from a narrowed vertical oval tilted forward with a small posterior-inferior
extension of the iris to much larger and round at and after transition. Many pre-transitional
larvae have a marked ventral indentation in the iris. Transitional larvae develop
a few scattered melanophores on the top of the head and two arcs from the mid
and upper eye across the top of the head (transitional Sparisoma
spp. have a similar upper arc but do not have the arc starting at the
mid-eye). | | |
|
| Cryptotomus roseus
larva | | 8.8 mm SL | | note
13 anal fin row melanophores | | DNA ID pending |
| San Blas, Panama, SB86-604 | |  | | |  |
| Cryptotomus roseus
larva | | 8.3 mm SL | | note
12 anal fin row melanophores | | DNA ID pending |
| San Blas, Panama, SB86-422 | |  | | |  |
| Cryptotomus roseus
larva | | 9.5 mm SL | note
reduced row of caudal
peduncle melanophores | | DNA
ID pending | | San Blas, Panama, SB86-1028 |
|  |
Sparisoma
sp. larva at top
vs. Cryptotomus roseus
larvae | | 9.2, 9.2, and 9.3 mm SL |
note reduced rows of caudal
peduncle melanophores
| | DNA ID pending | | San
Blas, Panama, SB82-020 | |  |
| Cryptotomus roseus
larva | | 9.2 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending | | San Blas, Panama, SB82-020 |
|  |
| Cryptotomus roseus
larva | | 7.8 mm SL | | DNA
ID pending | | San Blas, Panama, SB81-047 |
|  |
| Cryptotomus roseus
transitional larva | | 8.4 mm SL |
| note 13 anal fin row melanophores |
| DNA ID pending | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-608 | |  | | |  |
| Cryptotomus roseus
recruit | | 12.4 mm SL | | large
round eye | | San Blas, Panama, SB80-093 |
|  |
Sparisoma
sp. vs. Cryptotomus roseus
larva |
| 9.8 mm SL | the
lateral melanophore is absent,
but all melanophores are very faint |
| DNA ID pending | | San
Blas, Panama, SB86-422 | |  | | |  |
| | |
| | |
|
| Diagnosis:
Fin ray counts of D-IX,10 A-III,9 are shared by all Caribbean parrotfishes,
however pectoral fin ray counts divide parrotfishes into two groups: Sparisoma
spp., Cryptotomus roseus,
and Nicholsina usta all have 13 pectoral fin rays, while Scarus
spp. have a mode of 14-16 pectoral fin rays (the wrasse Doratonotus
megalepis also shares the median fin ray count but has 11-12 pectoral
fin rays). Larval and transitional markings are unknown, but based on the appearance
of the eastern Pacific sibling species, Nicholsina denticulata, recruits
have a distinct uniformly dark pattern distinct from C.
roseus and Sparisoma spp. |
| Description:
| | |
|
| Nicholsina denticulata
recruit | | 11.9 mm SL | | Baja
California, Mexico B01-628ss | |  | | |  |
| | | |
| |
| All contents © copyright 2006 Benjamin
Victor. All rights reserved. | | |
|
