Sparisoma cretense (Linnaeus 1758) —Parrotfish

Taxonomy. First record from Lebanon as Scarus cretensis, L. by Gruvel (1931: 90); subsequently recorded as Sparisoma cretense (Linnaeus 1766) by George et al. (1964: 20); as Sparisoma cretense (Linnaeus) by Mouneimné (1977: 64); as Sparisoma cretense (Linnaeus 1758) by Mouneimné (2002: 197); recently recorded as Sparisoma cretense by Harmelin-Vivien et al. (2005: 628); as as Sparisoma cretense by Bariche et al. (2009: 3); as Sparisoma cretense by Fanelli et al. (2015: 2170).

Distribution. Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Marmara, eastern Atlantic: Portugal south to Senegal, including offshore islands. Material in collection: AUBM, FMNH, MNHN and USNM (as Euscarus cretense and Sparisoma cretense).

Conservation. IUCN: Global (LC: 15 September 2009); Med. (LC: 16 November 2007). Capture and threats: FIT, FIB, NIS, Unknown. Occurrence: Common. Significant decline in the last two decades. Medium priority for conservation action .