Rainbow parrotfish
EN

Rainbow parrotfish

Scarus guacamaia

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_parrotfish

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Rainbow parrotfish populations have declined dramatically due to intensive fishing pressure throughout the Caribbean, where they are highly valued as food fish and targeted by both commercial and subsistence fisheries. Habitat degradation from coastal development, pollution, and coral reef bleaching has reduced the quality of seagrass beds and coral reefs essential for their feeding and reproduction. Climate change compounds these pressures through ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures that damage the coral ecosystems this species depends upon.

Threat summary

Habitat

Rainbow parrotfish inhabit coral reefs, seagrass beds, and adjacent sandy areas in tropical western Atlantic waters, ranging from Florida and the Caribbean to Brazil. They require healthy coral reef ecosystems for feeding on algae and seagrass meadows for juvenile development and nighttime shelter.

MARINE· major

Other threatened species in Scaridae

Midnight parrotfishEN

Midnight parrotfish

Scarus coelestinus

Unknown

Threatened in Antigua & Barbuda

CR

Alsophis antiguae

Increasing
Keeled SkimmerVU

Keeled Skimmer

Orthetrum coerulescens

Unknown
softshell crabVU

softshell crab

Callinectes sapidus

Unknown
Great Land CrabVU

Great Land Crab

Cardisoma guanhumi

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Rainbow parrotfish classified as Endangered?
Rainbow parrotfish is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Rainbow parrotfish populations have declined dramatically due to intensive fishing pressure throughout the Caribbean, where they are highly valued as food fish and targeted by both commercial and subsistence fisheries. Habitat degradation from coastal development, pollution, and coral reef bleaching has reduced the quality of seagrass beds and coral reefs essential for their feeding and reproduction. Climate change compounds these pressures through ocean acidification and rising sea temperatures that damage the coral ecosystems this species depends upon.
Where does Rainbow parrotfish live?
Rainbow parrotfish occurs in Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, and Brazil (plus 27 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Rainbow parrotfish?
The main threats to Rainbow parrotfish are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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