Colours

Distinguishing features

A small to medium sized dark purple parrotfish, with a light blue patch on the upper anterior part of the body, and a yellow-edged vertical blue line through the midsection. Initial phase fish are dark brown with 4-5 pale vertical chevron bands on the body.

Size

Depth range

Synonyms

Distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Found in nearly all habitats, although favours sheltered backreef areas with high vertical relief, such as Granite bluff and Mermaid Cove.

Found in most locations around the Island.

Behaviour

Juvenile and initial phase Schlegel's Parrotfish are usually seen in schools with other pale brown scarid IP fishes such as S. rivulatus and S. psittacus, however the terminal males are more often seen as solitary individuals. They feed on benthic turf algae in areas of coral rubble. This species is quite short lived, only reaching 8 years of age around Lizard Island. Males are somewhat territorial and maintain small harems of females.

Web resources

References