Body elongate and compressed. Teeth coalesced, forming parrot-like beak; upper dental plates included within the lower when mouth is closed. Caudal fin emarginate. Color variable with growth of fish:in young and female, body reddish olive, a small black spot on upper pectoral base, caudal fin reddish olive anteriorly and pale yellow posteriorly, dorsal, anal and pelvic fins reddish olive, pectoral fin pale; in adult male body green dorsally with a central dark brown spot on each scale; dorsal, anal and pelvic fins reddish olive, caudal fin dark brown anteriorly and reddish olive posteriorly, pectoral fin pale with a distinct black spot on the upper base.
Distribution:
Florida through Bahamas to Brazil; inhabiting in coral reefs, but also found in seagrass beds.
Remarks:
This species is similar to S. rubripinne but separable from it by the pale pectoral fin (the proximal two-thirds of the fin dark in the latter). (Matsuura)