Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Scaridae (Parrotfishes) > Scarinae
Etymology: Scarus: Greek, skaros = a fish described by anciente writers as a parrot fish; 1601 (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Eltio Alegondas Forsten (1811–1843) collected in the East Indies (1838–1843). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Bleeker.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 30 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 30°N - 28°S
Pacific Ocean: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean (Ref. 30874) to the Pitcairn Group.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 55.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2334); max. published weight: 2.5 kg (Ref. 3488)
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. This species is distinguished by the following characters: median predorsal scales 6-7; 3 scale rows on cheek,1(5-7), 2(6-9), 3(2-5); pectoral-fin rays 13-14 (usually 14); dental plates partially covered by lips and large adult with 1-2 conical teeth on side of upper dental plates; caudal fin emarginate in female and lunate in terminal male. Colour of male green with pink scale edges (pink colour sometimes cover much of the central body), green band around mouth with extension below eye and violet zone on upper head; female generally pale grey with broad zone of yellowish brown on middle of side, a small pale dot above diffuse blue-green patch on mid-side and a dark band from eye to pectoral region (Ref. 9793, 90102).
Often found on exposed outer lagoon and seaward reefs, usually in rich coral habitats. Generally solitary. Feeds on benthic algae (Ref. 89972). In Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Parenti, P. and J.E. Randall, 2000. An annotated checklist of the species of the labroid fish families Labridae and Scaridae. Ichthyol. Bull. J.L.B. Smith Inst. Ichthyol. (68):1-97. (Ref. 35918)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25 - 29.3, mean 28.4 °C (based on 2187 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02042 (0.01141 - 0.03655), b=2.98 (2.82 - 3.14), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
Generation time: 1.2 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 1
growth studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (23 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 36.8 [19.1, 93.0] mg/100g; Iron = 0.823 [0.450, 1.429] mg/100g; Protein = 18.4 [16.2, 20.3] %; Omega3 = 0.0673 [, ] g/100g; Selenium = 26 [13, 52] μg/100g; VitaminA = 18.5 [4.2, 80.6] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.76 [1.16, 2.65] mg/100g (wet weight);