The parrot fish, in Canarian waters.

The Parrot fish

Sparisoma cretense its scientific name, with its caracteheristic parrot-like mouth, to which it ownes its name on most of mainland Spain. Its teeth are fused together and resemble a beak, wich allows it to grind food, preferably seawed and invertebrates. It has a rounded caudal, large scales and a dorsal fin of a height that aids navegation. the body is generally oval in shape with a rounded tail, which strats with a conical head with high set small eyes.

Abundant in Canarian waters, to see a female example of the Parrot fish is always a delight for scuba divers. Their dazzling colours stand out among the marine fauna and shine as soon as the sun hits the surface. Popular like no other fish in the archipielago, it is characterized by its parrot-like beak, variation in colour, and insatiable curiosity that allows the diver to observe at close quarters.

Its range takes in all tropical Atlantic until Senegal and the Mediterranean, being especially numerous in the waters of the Canary Islands, where its presence is notable among the more than 600 species of the archipielago. It is common to see groups of between three and six examples of both sexes, curious about human although always keeping a prudent distance.

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Photo of my friend and diver, Lito Aguiar, published in the picasaweb seadiveclub. For more information to see http//:www.seadive.es

The familiarity of the population with this species has favoured the coining of diverse names for this fish. It is commonly known as "vieja" but also takes the name "tarrafila" to refer to a young fish. Adjectives are often used to make reference to colour or sex, such as, "coloured", "brown" or "meleda" (between grey and red).

The difference between the male and female can be made at a glance. The female has a spectacular shiny look in wich red predominates on most of the body and wich is combined with a grey patch on the head which is reaches the pectoral fins. Those reds and greys are in contrast with the yellow of the tail muscle. During the reproductive season, from June to Octuber, the female shows even more intense and well defined colour patterns. On the other hand, the male´s colour is much more sober, mainly grey with a black pacth on each side of the body and behin the head, as well as white flecks on its back and sides.

An adult fish can reach 70 centimetres length, although size normally varies between 20-30 centimetres. According to histiological studies ofits reproductive orgnas (gonads), we know that these fish reach maturity when their total lengthis more than 12 centimetres. The female spawns several times during the spawning period while the testicles of the male are secondary: they were initially ovaries during their youth stage, before full sexual maturity, before finally becoming functioning testicles.

At night, the parrot fish withdraws, to its retreat, only to leave in search of food the rays of sunlight. It is omnivorous with a diet rich in seaweed encrusted on rocks, sea grass and invertebrate microfauna. The shore and coastal areas are its favourite places, always swimming among rocky, sandy beds of up to 100 metres deep, althought they do not, as a rule, go lower than 50 metres.

Finally there must be a thousand ways to enjoy the sea and on the Canaries you will find each and every one of them. Blue, crystal-clear and full of life, the waters around the islands remain at a temperature of between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius throughout the year so that they are perfect at any time.

The underwater scenery of the islands open up an entire universe for lovers of diving. You will see striking and brightly-coloured plants and animal life, including rays, amberjacks and moray eels that are easily found in many parts of the Canaries.

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