Blue parrotfish

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Blue parrotfish
Scarus coeruleus in Madagascar Reef.jpg
Blue parrotfish in Madagascar Reef.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Scaridae
Genus: Scarus
Species:
S. coeruleus
Binomial name
Scarus coeruleus
Edwards, 1771
Blue Parrotfish Scarus coeruleus distribution map.png
Blue parrotfish range. [2]
Synonyms [3]
  • Coryphaena coeruleaEdwards, 1771
  • Coryphaena coerulea Bloch, 1786
  • Scarus coeruleus(Bloch, 1786)
  • Scarus loroBloch & Schneider, 1801
  • Calliodon gibbosusBloch & Schneider, 1801
  • Scarus trilobatus Lacépède, 1802
  • Sparus holocyaneosLacepède, 1802
  • Scarus obtusus Poey, 1860
  • Scarus nuchalisPoey, 1860

The blue parrotfish (Scarus coeruleus) is a member of the parrotfish genus Scarus . It is found on coral reefs in shallow water in the tropical and subtropical parts of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. They usually forage in a group of 500 individuals for spawning and deterring predators while feeding. [4]

Contents

Description

They are uniformly blue with a yellow spot on their heads that fades as they age. They average 30 to 75 centimetres (12 to 30 in) in length with a maximum length of 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in). They develop a large "beak" like other parrotfish that is used for scraping algae and small organisms from rocks. They have pharyngeal teeth that grind ingested rocks into sand. No other species has this uniform blue color as adults. They weigh about 9.1 kilograms (20 lb).

Reproduction

In summer, blue parrotfish gather in spawning groups. Sexual interaction occurs and the females deposit their eggs into the water column after which they sink to the seabed. The eggs hatch after about twenty-five hours. [5] Some special characteristics found in only female blue parrotfish are that there is an existence of an annual immature all-female group. The other is that females in the sexually mixed group spawn without any seasonality. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Blue parrotfish are found on coral reefs at depths of 3–25 m (9.8–82.0 ft) in the western Atlantic from Maryland in the United States to Bermuda, the Bahamas, and south to Brazil. They are also found throughout the West Indies but are absent from the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico. Juveniles are found in beds of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum). [3] The Scarus Coeruleus fish greatly depend on coral reef systems to provide them with various food sources; however, this ecosystem has become threatened, which has now put the blue parrotfish and many other species endangered of becoming extinct from lack of food availability. [7]

Diet

Their diet consists of small organisms found in the algae that scrape off rocks. They are described as professional sand-suckers, due to their foraging of food amongst the sandy areas that surround the reef. [8] They spend 80 percent of their time searching for food.

Status

The blue parrotfish has a wide range and is abundant in much of that range, some of which are in marine conservation areas. Although larger individuals are targeted by fishermen, the population of this fish seems to be stable overall. For these reasons, the IUCN has listed this fish as being of "Least Concern". [1]

Genetic Structuring

The study [9] on the blue-barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) conducted in Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, and the Seychelles in the Western Indian Ocean revealed a significant amount of genetic diversity within populations. Across different geographical regions, noticeable variations in genetic makeup were observed. Although environmental and geographic factors may have contributed to some degree of genetic structuring, the analysis showed a strong presence of gene flow and recent movement among previously isolated lineages. This highlights the dynamic nature of these populations and the exchange of genetic material among them, providing valuable insights into their genetics, evolution, and conservation.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parrotfish</span> Family of fishes

Parrotfish are a group of fish species traditionally regarded as a family (Scaridae), but now often treated as a subfamily (Scarinae) or tribe (Scarini) of the wrasses (Labridae). With roughly 95 species, this group's largest species richness is in the Indo-Pacific. They are found in coral reefs, rocky coasts, and seagrass beds, and can play a significant role in bioerosion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humphead wrasse</span> Species of fish

The humphead wrasse is a large species of wrasse mainly found on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. It is also known as the Māori wrasse, Napoleon wrasse, Napoleon fish, so mei 蘇眉 (Cantonese), mameng (Filipino), and merer in the Pohnpeian language of the Caroline Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green humphead parrotfish</span> Species of fish

The green humphead parrotfish is the largest species of parrotfish, growing to lengths of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) and weighing up to 75 kg (165 lb).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marbled parrotfish</span> Species of fish

The marbled parrotfish, also known as the seagrass parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish from the family Scaridae and is the only known member of the genus Leptoscarus. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution and is also found in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It is a coastal species found in beds of sea grass and seaweed.

<i>Scarus</i> Genus of fishes

Scarus is a genus of parrotfishes. With 52 currently recognised extant species, it is by far the largest genus in this family. The vast majority are found at reefs in the Indo-Pacific, but a small number of species are found in the warmer parts of the eastern Pacific and the western Atlantic, with a single species, Scarus hoefleri in the eastern Atlantic. Most are very colourful, and have strikingly different initial and terminal phases. Adults of most species reach maximum lengths of between 30 and 50 cm (12–20 in), but the rainbow parrotfish can grow to lengths of 1.2 m (3.9 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnight parrotfish</span> Species of fish

The midnight parrotfish is a species of parrotfish that inhabits coral reefs mainly in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess parrotfish</span> Species of fish

The princess parrotfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish, in the family Scaridae. It is typically 20 to 25 centimetres long, found in the Caribbean, South Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Its behavior, similar to other parrotfishes, is to swim about the reef and sandy patches during the day, at depths between 3 and 25 metres, scraping algae on which it feeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stoplight parrotfish</span> Species of fish

The stoplight parrotfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish from the family Scaridae, inhabiting coral reefs in Florida, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and as far south as Brazil. It mainly feeds on algae by scraping and excavating it with its teeth. Like most of its relatives, it is able to change sex.

<i>Hypoplectrus puella</i> Species of fish

Hypoplectrus puella, the barred hamlet is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the groupers and anthias. This species is from the Western Central Atlantic. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rusty parrotfish</span> Species of fish

The rusty parrotfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish belonging to the family Scaridae. It is associated with reefs in the north western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen parrotfish</span> Colorful species of fish in Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea

The queen parrotfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish, in the family Scaridae. It is found on reefs in the tropical West Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Other common names include blownose, blue chub, blue parrotfish, blueman, joblin crow parrot, moontail, okra peji and slimy head. The young males and adult female queen parrotfish are a reddish-brown color, and quite different in appearance from the bluish-green color of the final phase male. This is a common species throughout its range and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as "least concern".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark-capped parrotfish</span> Species of fish

The dark-capped parrotfish, also known as the blue parrotfish, egghead parrotfish or yellow-barred parrotfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish in the family Scaridae. This species inhabits coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific from Mauritius in the east to the Tuamotus and the Line Islands in the west, north to the Ryukyu Islands, Japan and south to Shark Bay, Western Australia and the Great Barrier Reef.

<i>Chlorurus sordidus</i> Species of fish

Chlorurus sordidus, known commonly as the daisy parrotfish or bullethead parrotfish, is a species of marine fish in the family Scaridae.

<i>Scarus niger</i> Species of fish

Scarus niger, common names the swarthy parrotfish, dusky parrotfish, and black parrotfish, is a species of parrotfish. It is in the phylum Chordata, class Actinopterygii, and family Scaridae. Like other members of its family, it has characteristic 10 dorsal soft rays, 9 dorsal spines, 9 anal soft rays, and 3 anal spines, It is found in Indo-West and Central Pacific, from the Red Sea, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to French Polynesia. It is found in lagoons, channels and outer reefs slopes on the depths of 2 to 20 metres. The dusky parrotfish often lives in solitude, but males may also live in a small group of mating females. The dusky parrotfish is primarily herbivorous, and its main source of food is benthic algae. At maturity, the fish is approximately 230-240mm long and weighs around 240g.

<i>Scarus ghobban</i> Species of fish

Scarus ghobban, also known as the blue-barred parrotfish, blue trim parrotfish, cream parrotfish, globe-headed parrotfish, green blotched parrotfish, yellow scale parrotfish, and bluechin parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish in the family Scaridae.

<i>Scarus tricolor</i> Species of fish

Scarus tricolor, also known as the tri-colour parrotfish or three-coloured parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish, in the family Scaridae. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.

<i>Chlorurus microrhinos</i> Species of fish

Chlorurus microrhinos, the blunt-head parrotfish or steephead parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish from the family Scaridae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Scarus fuscopurpureus</i> Species of fish

Scarus fuscopurpureus, common name purple-brown parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the class Actinopterygii. It is a parrotfish in the family Scaridae. It occurs in the western Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, the gulf of Aden and the Persain Gulf. Countries in which boarder these waters include, but are not limited to Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.

<i>Scarus psittacus</i> Species of fish

Scarus psittacus, the common parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish, in the family Scaridae. Other common names for this species include the palenose parrotfish, Batavian parrotfish and the rosy-cheek parrotfish. It has a wide distribution in the Indo-Pacific region where it is associated with coral reefs. This species is utilised as food. It is the type species of the genus Scarus.

<i>Scarus zelindae</i> Species of fish

Scarus zelindae is a species of fish of the Scaridae family in the order Perciformes. This species of Parrotfish can be brown, blue, green, yellow, and purple and can change their colors several times throughout their lifetime. They live for about 5–7 years and can be found in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, primarily in Brazilian waters.

References

  1. 1 2 Rocha, L.A.; Choat, J.H.; Clements, K.D.; Russell, B.; Myers, R.; Lazuardi, M.E.; Muljadi, A.; Pardede, S.; Rahardjo, P. (2012). "Scarus coeruleus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T190709A17797173. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190709A17797173.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ↑ International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2012. Scarus coeruleus. In: IUCN 2015. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.. Downloaded on 24 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Scarus coerulus" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  4. ↑ Jonna, R. Jamil. "Scaridae (Parrotfishes)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "Blue Parrotfishes, Scarus coeruleus". MarineBio Conservation Organisation. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  6. ↑ Ebisawa, Akihiko; Kanashiro, Kiyoaki; Ohta, Itaru; Uehara, Masato; Nakamura, Hiroyuki (September 2016). "Changes of group construction accompanying with growth and maturity in blue-barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban), and influences of the fishing targeting the immature group to the stock". Regional Studies in Marine Science. 7: 32–42. Bibcode:2016RSMS....7...32E. doi:10.1016/j.rsma.2016.01.012.
  7. ↑ Lindholm, J., Knight, A., Kaufman, L., et al. (2006). Site Fidelity and Movement of The ParrotFishes Scarus Coeruleus and Scarus Taeniopterus at Conch Reef (Northern Florida Keys). Caribbean Journal of Science., 42(1), 138-144.
  8. ↑ Overholtzer, Karen L.; Motta, Philip J. (11 February 1999). "Comparative resource use by juvenile parrotfishes in the Florida Keys". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 177: 177–187. Bibcode:1999MEPS..177..177O. doi: 10.3354/meps177177 .
  9. ↑ Visram, Shakil; Yang, Ming-Che; Pillay, Ruby Moothien; Said, Sadri; Henriksson, Oskar; Grahn, Mats; Chen, Chaolun Allen (1 July 2010). "Genetic connectivity and historical demography of the blue barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) in the western Indian Ocean". Marine Biology. 157 (7): 1475–1487. Bibcode:2010MarBi.157.1475V. doi:10.1007/s00227-010-1422-8. ISSN   1432-1793.

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