| Family: |
Scaridae (Parrotfishes), subfamily: Scarinae |
| Max. size: |
25 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 20 - 45 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, Philippines, and Guam. Records from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are questionable and confirmation is needed. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9; Vertebrae: 25-25. Presence of 4 median predorsal scales; 3 rows of scales on cheek, the upper row with 6-7 scales, the middle row with 6 scales, and the lower row with 1 or 2 scales; 1 or 2 laterally projecting canines posteriorly on side of dental plates of adults; lips covering more than 3/4 of dental plates; dorsal fin moderately high, the longest dorsal spine 2.1-2.6 in head length; caudal fin truncate in young, double marginate in initial-phase fish, and somewhat lunate in terminal males. Initial phase fish brownish pink to rose pink, the throat and thorax green with green stripes extending posteriorly across abdomen; naked part of caudal fin blackish with orange lobes and a broad whitish posterior margin; body of terminal males pink and green, with blue and pink stripes ventrally; head blue with pink stripes ( a broad one on snout passing through lower eye to pectoral-fin base, and another from behind eye across upper part of operculum); naked part of caudal fin purple centrally, green posteriorly, the lobes blue with a pink submarginal band. |
| Biology: |
Found in coastal to outer reef crests and along drop-offs, usually in small groups (Ref. 48636); occurs at depths greater than 20 m (Ref. 40928). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 September 2009 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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