Cryptotomus roseus Cope, 1871
Bluelip parrotfish
Cryptotomus roseus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Sparisomatinae
Max. size:  13 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range - 60 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Bermuda, southern Florida (USA), and Bahamas to Brazil (Ref. 7251). Possibly in Ascension I. (Ref. 98447).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Jaw teeth fused only at bases. Anterior nostril without membranous flap (Ref. 26938). Male color, olivaceous on the back with small pink dots; a salmon stripe along the side with a row of green dots; body below stripe light green with some salmon markings on scales (Ref. 13442).
Biology:  Inhabits seagrass beds and weedy areas with sand (Ref. 9710). Feeds on seagrasses (Ref. 9710). Buries in the sand to sleep in a mucus tube (Ref. 9710). Protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 June 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.