During the initial phase, the colouration varies greatly from blue-green to green to solid olive.

Normally, two white stripes will be visible with a black blotch present behind the upper gill covers.

[4] This species occurs throughout the Caribbean Sea, and the western Atlantic Ocean in the waters of Bermuda, Florida, the Bahamas to Central America and Brazil.

[4] Specimens may be seen defecating frequently, which appears as a white cloud as it is mostly composed of coral limestone.

[4] Sparisoma aurofrenatum is a herbivore, feeding on algae and polyps it scrapes from rocks and coral using its 'beak'.