First record of Sparisoma choati (Labridae, Scarinae) from the Canary Islands, extending its northern distribution limit and providing new information on its morphology and habitat

Abstract

The collection of a female–male pair of Sparisoma choati represents the first record of this West African parrotfish (Labridae, Scarinae) in the Canary Islands, extending the known northern limit of its distribution. Previously, the species had been reported from tropical waters of the eastern Atlantic, ranging from Senegal and the Cabo Verde Islands south to the Gulf of Guinea and northern Angola. Both specimens were captured on the southeast coast of Gran Canaria, on a non-reef substrate (sand with rhodoliths), approximately 100 m from the nearest rocky outcrop. Potential arrival vectors, including natural range expansion and human-mediated introduction, are discussed. The occurrence of two exceptionally large individuals representing different life phases may indicate that local environmental conditions are suitable for the species, although persistence cannot be inferred from the present record alone. This finding provides new data on the species’ morphology, meristics and habitat use, contributing to a better understanding of this poorly known tropical reef fish and highlighting ongoing changes in the composition of the Canarian ichthyofauna.