greenblotch parrotfish
Sparisoma atomarium
Parrotfish of deep reefs, between 20 and 55 m, with a large green patch behind the head. It has commercial use and also serves the aquarium trade.
Also called: papagaio-mancha-verde, loro mancha verde, loro de lunar verde, greenblotch parrotfish
- maximum
- 25 cm
- depth
- 20–55 m
who is the greenblotch parrotfish
Fish of the family Labridae, reaching 25 cm. It occurs in the western Atlantic, from Bermuda, southern Florida and the Bahamas, through the Caribbean, to northern South America, and in Brazil only between Espírito Santo and São Paulo. It lives on rocky and coral reefs with steep walls, from 20 to 55 m deep, and also on seagrass and algae-rich reefs. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite and forms harems, with one male and several smaller females. In fishing, it has commercial use and is sold for aquariums.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the greenblotch parrotfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
In the initial phase it is olive-brown, finely spotted with pale pink, with white stripes more visible on the lower half of the body. Terminal-phase males have a broad olive or red band across the upper body, and the lower half is iridescent blue-green with wavy orange stripes. The easiest mark is the bright green patch, the size of the eye, behind the upper part of the gill opening, sometimes with one or two dark blue dots.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Western Atlantic, from Bermuda and southern Florida, through the Bahamas and the Caribbean, to northern South America. In Brazil it is restricted to the coast between Espírito Santo and São Paulo.
Habitat: Rocky and coral reefs with steep walls, from 20 to 55 m deep.
coast
rules for the greenblotch parrotfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
No dangerous spines or venom, and it is harmless to handle.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.0123, b = 3.05; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Sparisoma atomarium (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Sparisoma atomariumNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
