Palenose Parrotfish (species: Scarus psittacus) in Cook Islands (Gaia Guide)
Cook Islands > Animalia > Vertebrata > Actinopterygii > Perciformes > Scarus psittacus (gallery)
Scarus psittacus
Palenose Parrotfish


©Rick Stuart-Smith: Scarus psittacus, Lizard Island area.

©Graham Edgar: A male Scarus psittacus at Cod Hole near Lizard Island.

©Anne: Male Scarus psittacus in nuptial display on the outer crest of Day Reef near Lizard Island. Note broad yellow band on body and dark blue upper head between snout and eye.

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Scaridae
Genus Scarus
Species Scarus psittacus

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Colours

                                            

Distinguishing features

The initial phase closely resembles that of Scarus globiceps and Scarus rivulatus. May be differed according to the number of scale rows and scales on the ventral side. (Fishbase)

Size

  • Up to 30 cm (Total Length)

Depth range

  • From 2 m to 25 m

Synonyms

Similar taxa

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Indo-Pacific distribution: Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa and east to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Shark Bay, Western Australia and Lord Howe Island.

Inhabit reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs to at least 25 m depth . Found over corals (FishBase).

Behaviour

Initial-phase fish stage usually form small feeding schools. (Fishbase)

Diet

They graze on benthic algae. (Fishbase)

Web resources

References

  • Bellwood, D.R. (1985). The functional morphology, systematics and behavioural ecology of parrotfishes (Family Scaridae), Ph.D. thesis, James Cook University, Townsville. LIRS catalog number 310.
  • Bellwood, D.R. (1985). The functional morphology, systematics and behavioural ecology of parrotfishes (Family Scaridae), Ph.D. thesis, James Cook University, Townsville. LIRS catalog number 310.
  • Bellwood, D.R. (1988). Ontogenetic changes in the diet of early post-settlement Scarus species (Pisces: Scaridae), Journal of Fish Biology, 33: 213-219. LIRS catalog number 396.
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