Rainbow Parrotfish

The largest of our Parrotfishes, it often exceeds three feet in length.

Guacamaya

Coral reefs. Inhabits coral reefs. Young are commonly found in mangrove areas. Feeds mainly on benthic algae. Known to have a home cave to which it retires at night or when danger threatens; makes use of the sun as an aid to locating the cave.

On large males, head and shoulders are gold, as are the fins. Scales on rest of body are deep green or aqua, ringed in gold. Red streaks or spots around pectoral fins. Blue mouth. Females and small males are mostly green with small patches of gold on the head and fins. Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. Fins dull orange with tongues of green extending into the dorsal and anal; margins of median fins blue; dental plates blue-green. There appears to be no obvious difference in color with sex

Summary of Distribution: Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Florida (USA), and the Bahamas to Argentina; absent in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
Note: Distribution range colors indicate degree of suitability of habitat which can be interpreted as probabilities of occurrence (fishbase.org)

Occasionally takes a crustacean, bait fished by reef fishermen.