Stoplight Parrotfish in Cozumel
Stoplight Parrotfish (*Sparisoma viride*) in Cozumel: how to identify it, where it is reliably seen, and what it is commonly confused with.
Terminal-phase males are emerald green with a bright yellow spot behind the gill and a yellow crescent on the tail. Initial-phase fish are a completely different animal to look at: dark red-brown with a scarlet belly and a white tail band.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Sparisoma viride |
|---|---|
| Group | Colourful Reef Fish |
| Typical size | 30–50 cm |
| Depth range | 2–25 m |
| When to see it | Year-round |
| Active | Daytime |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Notes | — |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
Everywhere shallow — Paradise Reef, Chankanaab and Tormentos. The audible crunch on a Cozumel reef is usually this fish.
Reliable sites: Paradise Reef, Chankanaab Reef, Tormentos.
Behaviour
Scrapes algae off coral with a fused beak, digests the algae and passes the rock as sand. A single large parrotfish produces a meaningful share of the white sand on a Caribbean beach. At night it wraps itself in a mucus cocoon that masks its scent from predators.
Commonly Confused With
- Initial vs terminal phase — They look like two species. Red-brown with a white tail band is the same fish as the green-and-yellow one, earlier in life.
- Redband parrotfish — Redband is smaller and lacks the yellow gill spot and tail crescent.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Do not chase for photographs at night — disturbing a cocooned parrotfish costs it its overnight protection.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip