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).
More on author: Steindachner.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 50 m (Ref. 37816). Tropical; 32°N - 32°S, 132°E - 124°W
Pacific Ocean: Ryukyu Island to the Line and Ducie Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands; throughout Micronesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 60.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710); common length : 41.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37816)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 9;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 10;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 9. This is the only Scarus in which one of the middle dorsal rays of terminal males is produced into a slightly elongate filament. Small juveniles have a distinctive yellow head and striped to mottled body (Ref. 1602).
Often found in large groups (Ref. 90102). Adults usually seen along the reef margin of seaward reefs while juveniles and subadults are found in shallow protected reefs (Ref. 9710). Feeds mainly on algae (Ref. 26993). Occurs to a depth of over 50 m (Ref. 1602). Adults and subadults form groups, juveniles usually solitary (Ref. 9710). Minimum depth of 1 m reported from Ref. 90102.
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. 126983)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
More information
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