The Stoplight Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) is a vibrantly colored reef fish known for its strong, beak-like jaws used to scrape and excavate algae from coral, contributing significantly to sand production in reefs. This species exhibits dramatic color changes throughout its life phases and is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning it can change sex from female to male. They are diurnal, spending their days foraging on coral reefs in the tropical western Atlantic, and typically rest hidden on the seabed at night.
