Scarus niger | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Labriformes |
Family: | Scaridae |
Genus: | Scarus |
Species: | S. niger |
Binomial name | |
Scarus niger Forsskål, 1775 | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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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, [3] 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 (6 ft 7 in to 65 ft 7 in). [4] 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. [3]
The dusky parrotfish is a protogynous hermaphrodite, as evidenced by instances where a dominant female in a group with only females turned into a male. The dusky parrotfish is oviparous, so when breeding, the male and female fishes form pairs and the female lays eggs that later hatch. It undergoes a reproductive cycle that can be defined by the size and appearance of its gonads; after 5 stages of maturity, the gonads of the fish weigh an average of 2.54 g. After breeding, the gonads regress in size till they weigh an average of 0.37 g, decreasing over a fifth in size when not breeding in comparison to the size of the gonads during breeding season. Dusky parrotfishes release one batch of eggs per breeding season. [3]
The dusky parrotfish feeds primarily on algae found on hard substrate and dead coral. It has a relatively fast feeding rate of around 98.9 bites in 5 minutes in comparison to other parrotfish species; however, at the same time, it has a relatively small bite volume of 0.002 cm3. It contributes very little to bio-erosion in comparison to other parrotfish, averaging around 2.5 ± 0.9 cm3 per hour. It does not follow any set feeding pattern, but it tends to feed more in the morning and afternoon rather than at midday and sundown. [5] The short term foraging range of the dusky parrotfish is 4.9 ± 3.6 m2 to 33.5 ± 5.9 m2. Denser coral patches that provide more cover for the fish leads to a decrease in the foraging range, as well as denser populations. In comparison to other species of parrotfishes, the dusky parrotfish tends to be less aggressive and will decrease its foraging range when it is in an environment with a high parrotfish density. Competition between parrotfishes negatively affects the parrotfish more than benefits gained from group foraging, such as reductions in predation risks. [6] These changes in foraging range indicate that the dusky parrotfish is able to make small changes to its grazing behavior under short-term disturbances; however, it is unclear whether these compensatory mechanisms can withstand significant change in the fishes' environment.
Marine herbivores like the swarthy parrotfish rely on endosymbiotic microorganisms to digest carbohydrates. In aerobic conditions, bacteria ferments the carbohydrates and produces short-chain fatty acids or SCFAs. First studied in vertebrate herbivores, SCFAs also allow marine herbivores to further digest carbohydrates that were not broken down by digestive enzymes. This process may contribute as much as 30% of the basal metabolic energy needed for the organism. Acetate was the major SCFA found in the plasma of Swarthy parrotfish, ranging from .45 ± .11 mM to 3.80 ± 1.89 mM, suggesting the swarthy parrotfish fishes use microbial digestion. [7]
The presence of the swarthy parrotfish in large and small reef communities contributes to diversity and therefore the resilience of the ecosystem. The reef ecosystem may be dramatically shifted in the absence of the swarthy parrotfish. After extreme climate events, like cyclones, subtle reef dynamics change such as grazing by herbivorous fish. In 2011-2012, after severe climate disturbances, grazing by herbivorous fish, including the swarthy parrotfish, decreased by over 90%. Although these changes were not visible, they make the reef ecosystem highly unstable, and many reefs may be on the verge of collapse. The reductions in grazing can cause algal turfs, which are non-palpable to the swarthy parrotfish. [8]
The dusky parrotfish are widely distributed, but mainly scattered around the Indo-Pacific region. Dusky parrotfishes inhabit areas of the reef that are coral-rich such as the reef flat and reef slope. [5] The swarthy parrotfish is not heavily fished and therefore their population dynamics are more likely determined by habitat and recruitment [9]
Parrotfishes 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.
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.
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).
The midnight parrotfish is a species of parrotfish that inhabits coral reefs mainly in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Florida.
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.
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.
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".
The blue parrotfish 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.
Chlorurus sordidus, known commonly as the daisy parrotfish or bullethead parrotfish, is a species of marine fish in the family Scaridae.
Scarus frenatus is a species of parrotfish. Common names include bridled parrotfish, sixband or six-banded parrotfish or vermiculate parrotfish.
Hipposcarus harid, the Longnose parrotfish or Candelamoa parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish from the family Scaridae found on coral reefs of Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
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.
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.
Calotomus zonarchus, commonly known as yellowbar parrotfish, is a species of parrotfish native to the waters of the Hawaiian Islands.
Scarus forsteni, commonly known as the whitespot parrotfish, or Forsten's parrotfish, is a marine fish native to tropical areas in the western Pacific Ocean, where it lives in coral reefs and feeds on benthic algae.
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.
Chlorurus gibbus, the heavybeak parrotfish, gibbus parrotfish or Red Sea steephead parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish from the family Scaridae. It is found in the Red Sea.
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.
Kendall David Clements is a New Zealand academic and as of 2021 is a full professor at the University of Auckland specialising in the ecology and evolution 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.