Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Initial Phase (IP) Female.  Underwater photography taken in coastal waters off Bonaire, December 2019. Photograph and identification courtesy of Bob Hillis, Ivins, Utah.

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Initial Phase (IP) Female. Fish caught in coastal waters off Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, July 2021. Length: 20 cm (7.9 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Luke Ovgard, Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Initial Phase (IP), Female. Fish caught in coastal waters off Islamorada, Florida, December 2013. Length: 20 cm (7.9 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Kenneth Tse, Toronto, Canada.

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Initial Phase (IP) Female, Transitioning To Terminal Phase (TP) Male. Fish caught from coastal waters off Sebastian, Florida, April 2021. Length: 15 cm (5.9 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Ben Cantrell, Sebastian, Florida.

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Initial Phase (IP), Female. Fish caught from coastal waters off Broward County, Florida, August 2021. Length: 19 cm (7.5 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Ben Cantrell, Sebastian, Florida.

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Initial Phase (IP), Female. Fish caught from coastal waters off Key Largo, Florida, December 2015. Length: 21 cm (8.3 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Eli (obsessiveangling.wordpress.com).

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Initial Phase (IP) Female, Transitioning To Terminal Phase (TP) Male. Fish caught off the Anglin’s Fishing Pier, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, March 2014. Length: 21.5 cm (8.5 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of George Brinkman, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Terminal Phase (TP) Male. Fish caught from coastal waters off Key Largo, Florida, December 2013. Length: 22 cm (8.7 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Ben Cantrell, Peoria, Illinois.

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Terminal Phase (TP), Male. Fish caught from coastal waters off Key Largo, Florida, December 2015. Length: 23 cm (9.1 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Eli (obsessiveangling.wordpress.com).

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Terminal Phase (TP) Male. Fish caught from coastal waters off Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 2015. Length: 23 cm (9.1 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Kenneth Tse, Toronto, Canada.

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Terminal Phase (TP) Male. Fish caught off the Anglin’s Fishing Pier, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida, March 2014. Length: 24 cm (9.5 inches). Catch and photograph courtesy of George Brinkman, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Identification courtesy of Josh Leisen (joshadventures.com), Gaylord, Michigan.

Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, Terminal Phase (TP) Male. Fish caught off the Anglin’s Pier, Lauderdale-by the Sea, Florida, November 2014. Length: 26 cm (10 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Ryan Crutchfield, Tampa, Florida.

The Redband Parrotfish, Sparisoma aurofrenatum, is a member of the Parrotfish or Scaridae Family, and is known in Mexico as loro manchado. Globally, there are fifteen species in the genus Sparisoma, of which six are found in Mexican waters, all in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Redband Parrotfish has an elongated compressed body. Juveniles are various shades of red-brown; they have 2 white stripes, a black blotch behind their gill cover, and a white spot behind their dorsal fin. Females in the initial phase (IP) vary in color from blue-green to green to solid olive; their fins are mottled brown to red with 2 white stripes and they have a white spot behind their dorsal fin. IP fish are normally between 6.3 cm (2.5 inches) and 15.2 cm (6.0 inches) in length. Males in the terminal phase (TP) are greenish overall and lighter green ventrally; their flanks are yellow-brown with a red tint. They have red anal and dorsal fins and a reddish line that runs from their mouth, under their eyes, and to their upper gill cover. Their caudal fin is square and yellow-gray with a broad red margin and black-tipped lobes. Their iris is red. They typically have a white spot behind their dorsal fin. Their front teeth are fused into a beak with broad plates. They have 1 or 2 canines on the rear side of their top jaw. Their anal fin has 3 spines and 9 rays; their caudal fin is square; and, their dorsal fin is continuous with 9 spines and 10 rays. They have 11 to 16 gill rakers. Their are covered with rows of large smooth scales. Their lateral line is broken into 2 sections.

The Redband Parrotfish is found in and around coral reef and seagrass environments as singular individuals or in small groups at depths up to 67 m (220 feet). Juveniles are found within seagrass beds where they are well camouflaged against the sea floor. They reach a maximum of 28 cm (11 inches) in length. They forage during the day feeding on benthic algae and live corals. They are hermaphrodites and live in harems with a dominant male. They are not territorial and live in harmony with other species. They normally swim by using only their pectoral fins and spend a significant amount of time resting on the bottom. At night they retire into self-made slimy sleeping bags for protection against predation. They have a lifespan of at least 5 years. The Redband Parrotfish is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

The Redband Parrotfish is a resident of all Mexican waters of the Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Caribbean.

The Redband Parrotfish is most likely confused with the Redtail Parrotfish, Sparisoma chrysopterum and the Stoplight Parrotfish, Sparisoma viride, however both have lunate caudal fins.

From a conservation perspective the Redband Parrotfish is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. They are small in stature and of limited interest to most.