Scarus psittacus

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Scarus psittacus
Scarus psittacus male.jpg
male
Scarus psittacus femelle.jpg
female
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Scaridae
Genus: Scarus
Species:
S. psittacus
Binomial name
Scarus psittacus
Forsskål, 1775
Synonyms [2]
  • Scarus venosus Valenciennes, 1840
  • Xanothon venosus(Valenciennes, 1840)
  • Scarus hertitValenciennes, 1840
  • Scarus forsteriValenciennes, 1840
  • Callyodon forsteri(Valenciennes, 1840)
  • Scarus taeniurusValenciennes, 1840
  • Scarus balinensis Bleeker, 1849
  • Scarus bataviensisBleeker, 1857
  • Callyodon bataviensis(Bleeker, 1857)
  • Xanothon bataviensis(Bleeker, 1857)
  • Pseudocarus oktodonBleeker, 1861
  • Scarus oktodon(Bleeker, 1861)
  • Xanothon oktodon(Bleeker, 1861)
  • Pseudoscarus forskalii Klunzinger, 1871
  • Scarus forskalii(Klunzinger, 1871)
  • Pseudoscarus filholi Sauvage, 1880
  • Pseudoscarus labiosus Macleay, 1883
  • Scarus gilberti Jenkins, 1901
  • Scarus brunneusJenkins, 1901
  • Scarus jenkinsiJordan & Evermann, 1903
  • Callyodon erythacusJordan & Seale, 1906
  • Callyodon hornbosteli Fowler, 1925
  • Scarus galenaJordan, 1925
  • Xanothon carifanus J.L.B. Smith, 1956
  • Xanothon parvidensJ.L.B. Smith, 1956

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 .

Contents

Description

Scarus psittacus attains a standard length of 30 centimetres (12 in). [3] The dorsal fin has 9 spines and 10 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 9 soft rays and the pectoral fin has 13–15 rays. [2] The lips of this fish largely cover the dental plates. In the initial phase there is a canine-like tooth on upper dental plate, and in the terminal phase there are two canine-like teeth on the upper plate and a single such tooth on the lower plate. In the terminal phase the caudal fin is deeply emaginate. The initial phase individuals are uniformly red-brown with a number of pale blotches and an obvious pale head. In the terminal phase they are mostly pale green to tan in colour, with a lavender face and blue bands over their upper lip which extend rearwards over the cheek below the eye, with a second green band behind the eye and more bands on the lower lip and chin. [4]

Distribution

Scarus psittacus is widespread in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, its distribution extends from the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Aden to Sodwana Bay, [1] it ranges eastwards across the Indian Ocean and into the Pacific Ocean extending eastwards to Hawaii, [3] north to southern Japan and south to Australia, as far as Shark Bay in Western Australia and Lord Howe Island. [2]

Habitat and biology

Scarus psittacus is a common and typical species of reef fronts, as well as more sheltered areas of reefs and of lagoons. It occurs to a depth of 30 metres (98 ft). [1] It can be encountered in small schools foraging over corals, reef flats in lagoons and on seaward reefs which have an abundant growth of the filamentous algae on which it feeds. [5] Like most species of parrotfish S. psittacus is a protogynous hermaphrodite and is sexually dichromatic. The population is made up of a few large, colourful territorial males called terminal phase who guard groups, or harems, of smaller, less colourful individuals termed initial phase. Most of the initial phase individuals are females but around a quarter of the initial phase individuals caught off Oahu were males. These males are "sneaker males" which attend the mating of the terminal phase males with the females and attempt to inseminate some of the eggs laid. The terminal phase males usually start life as females and when there is no terminal male available the dominant female in the harem transforms into a male. The initial phase males are male throughout their life, and occasionally they can become terminal phase individuals. [3]

Naming and taxonomy

Scarus psittacus was first formally described in 1775 by the Swedish explorer, orientalist and naturalist Peter Forsskål (1732-1763) with the type locality given as Jeddah. [6] Subsequently Joseph Swain designated S. psittacus as the type species of the genus Scarus. [7] Research has found that across its wide distribution S. psittacus has a five genetically distinct geographic populations with the most genetic diversity within populations and the most diverse populations being at the eastern and western ends of its range. [8]

Human usage

Scarus psittacus is caught in some small scale fisheries [1] but its flesh is regarded as poor as it is too soft. [4]

Related Research Articles

Parrotfish Family of fishes

Parrotfishes are a group of about 90 fish species regarded as a family (Scaridae), or a subfamily (Scarinae) of the wrasses. With about 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.

<i>Sparisoma</i> Genus of fishes

Sparisoma is a genus of parrotfishes native to warmer parts of the Atlantic. FishBase recognizes 15 species in this genus, including S. rocha described from Trindade Island in 2010 and S. choati described from the East Atlantic in 2012. They are the most important grazers of algae in the Caribbean Sea, especially since sea urchins, especially Diadema, the other prominent consumers of algae, have been reduced in many places by a recent epidemic.

Marbled parrotfish 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).

Rusty parrotfish 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.

Queen parrotfish 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".

<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 frenatus</i> Species of fish

Scarus frenatus is a species of parrotfish. Common names include bridled parrotfish, sixband or six-banded parrotfish or vermiculate parrotfish.

<i>Hipposcarus harid</i> Species of fish

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.

<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 altipinnis</i> Species of fish

Scarus altipinnis, the filament-finned parrotfish, high-fin parrotfish or mini-fin parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish from the family Scaridae. It occurs in the tropical and subtropical Western Pacific Ocean.

<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>Calotomus carolinus</i> Species of fish

Calotomus carolinus, commonly known as Carolines parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish, in the family Scaridae. It is also known as the starry-eye parrotfish, stareye parrotfish, bucktooth parrotfish, Christmas parrotfish or marbled parrotfish. Since the Calotomus carolinus is known across the Pacific,it also has its own name in many native languages for example, it is called a panuhunuhunu in the Hawaiian language

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

Scarus quoyi, commonly known as Quoy's or greenblotch parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish, in the family Scaridae. It is native to the western Pacific Ocean, where it lives in coral reefs. The species can grow to a length of up to 40 cm.

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

Scarus prasiognathos, the Singapore parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish, in the family Scaridae. It is native to the eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans, where it lives in coral reefs.

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

Scarus globiceps, commonly known as the globehead, violet-lined, speckled or roundhead parrotfish, is a marine fish native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where it lives in coral reefs.

<i>Hipposcarus longiceps</i> Species of fish

Hipposcarus longiceps or Pacific longnose parrotfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish in the family Scaridae. It is found in the eastern Indian Oceans and the western Pacific Ocean from the Cocos-Keeling Islands and Rowley Shoals in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Line and Tuamotu islands in the east, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.

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

Scarus fuscopurpureus, common name purple-brown parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish in the family Scaridae. It occurs in the western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

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

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Choat, J.H.; Myers, R.; Russell, B.; Clements, K.D.; Rocha, L.A.; Lazuardi, M.E.; Muljadi, A.; Pardede, S.; Rahardjo, P. (2012). "Scarus psittacus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T190736A17780233. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190736A17780233.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Scarus psittacus" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. 1 2 3 Hawaii Co-operative Fishery Research Unit (2008). "Biology of Parrotfish in Hawaii" (PDF). Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Scarus psittacus Pakati (PL) Palenose Parrotfish". Cook Islands Biodiversity Database. The Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust. 2007. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  5. "Palenose parrotfish (Scarus psittacus)". Whatsthatfish.com. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  6. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Scarus psittacus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  7. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Scarus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  8. Kate L. Winters; Lynne van Herwerden; J. Howard Choat & D. R. Robertson (2010). "Phylogeography of the Indo-Pacific parrotfish Scarus psittacus: isolation generates distinctive peripheral populations in two oceans". Marine Biology. 157 (8): 1679–1691. doi:10.1007/s00227-010-1442-4. Abstract