Ryan Photographic - Scarinae - Parrotfishes


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Subfamily Scarinae

The Subfamily Scarinae contains the well-known parrotfish - so named for their beak-like mouth. At the time I wrote this Fishbase recognized 83 species in 9 genera.

They are important coral reef species feeding on algae, coralline algae and in some species, coral polyps. They eat substantial amounts of coral rock and coralline algae which helps them break down the other algae they eat. Wikipedia states that a parrotfish can produce 90 kgs of coral sand a year - so next time you lounge on that beautiful tropical beach remember where it comes from ...

Parrotfishes exhibit a wide variety of color patterns both within and between species. Juvenile parrotfish are usually differently colored from adults. Sex change is common. Many start off as females and then change to males as they get bigger. Males and females are usually differently colored.

A few species secrete a mucus cocoon around themselves at night, eating it in the morning, thereby recyclng nutrients. The cocoon is supposed to mask their scent from olfactory predators such as moray eels. In addition, the very act of touching the cocoon gives the parrotfish a warning that something is amiss.

The largest of the parrotfish is the bumphead parrotfish which supposedly reaches 1.3m. Having been lucky enough to see a herd of these magnificent fish in the Raja Ampat Islands I have to question this upper size limit - however, the excitement of seeing 20-30 of these massive fish going about their business feeding is enough to suspend all critical faculties so perhaps they just loomed larger in my memories.

 

Bulbometopon muricatum Bumphead parrotfish

Bulbometopon muricatum Bumphead parrotfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

FISH 1405 Bulbometopon muricatum Bumphead parrotfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Bulbometopon muricatum Bumphead parrotfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

FISH 1408 Bulbometopon muricatum Bumphead parrotfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Bulbometopon muricatum Bumphead parrotfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

FISH 1414 Bulbometopon muricatum Bumphead parrotfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Bulbometopon muricatum Bumphead parrotfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua

FISH 3500 Bulbometopon muricatum Bumphead parrotfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Cetoscarus ocellatus Bicolor parrotfish

Cetoscarus ocellatus Bicolor parrotfish sleeping at night. Fiji.

Chlorurus microrhinos Steephead parrotfish

Chlorurus microrhinos, Steephead parrotfish

FISH 620 FISH 621 Chlorurus microrhinos, Steephead parrotfish, terminal phase, Kadavu, Fiji.

Chlorurus microrhinos, Steephead parrotfish, terminal phase (Scaridae), Kadavu, Fiji

FISH 621 Chlorurus microrhinos, Steephead parrotfish, terminal phase, Kadavu, Fiji.

Chlorurus sordidus bullethead parrotfish

Chlorurus sordidus Bullethead parrotfish (Scaridae) Kadavu, Fiji.

FISH 629 Chlorurus sordidus, bullethead parrotfish, Kadavu, Fiji.

Chlorurus sordidus, bullethead parrotfish terminal phase, Kadavu, Fiji

FISH 628 Chlorurus sordidus, bullethead parrotfish terminal phase, Kadavu, Fiji.

Chlorurus sordidus

Chlorurus sordidus, bullethead parrotfish, Kadavu, Fiji

Chlorurus sordidus

Chlorurus sordidus, bullethead parrotfish 2, Kadavu, Fiji

Leptoscarus vaigensis Marbled parrotfish

Leptoscarus vaigensis Marbled parrotfish, Puerto Galera, Philippines

FISH 5112 Leptoscarus vaigensis Marbled parrotfish, Puerto Galera, Philippines.

Scarus dimidiatus Yellow-barred parrotfish

Scarus dimidiatus Yellow-barred parrotfish Intermediate phase

FISH Scarus dimidiatus Yellow-barred parrotfish Intermediate phase, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

Scarus forsteni Bluepatch parrotfish

Scarus forsteni Bluepatch parrotfish , intermediate phase, Matamanoa, Fiji

Scarus ghobban Bluechin parrotfish

Scarus ghobban Bluechin parrotfish initial phase Sea of Cortez

FISH 6118 Scarus ghobban Bluechin parrotfish initial phase Sea of Cortez.

Scarus prasiognathus Greenthroat parrotfish

Scarus prasiognathus Greenthroat parrotfish

FISH 8731 Scarus prasiognathus Greenthroat parrotfish, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat.

Scarus schlegeli Yellowbar parrotfish

Scarus schlegeli Yellowbar parrotfish (Scaridae), Taveuni

FISH 836 Scarus schlegeli Yellowbar parrotfish (Scaridae), Taveuni, Fiji.

Scarus schlegeli Yellowbar parrotfish Intermediate phase (Scaridae) Taveuni, Fiji

FISH 4319 Scarus schlegeli Yellowbar parrotfish Intermediate phase Taveuni, Fiji.

Scarus schlegeli Yellowbar parrotfish

FISH 4320 Scarus schlegeli Yellowbar parrotfish intermediate phase, Taveuni, Fiji.

Scarus taeniopterus Princess parrotfish

Scarus taeniopterus Princess parrotfish juveniles, Belize

Sparisoma aurofrenatum Redband parrotfish

Sparisoma aurofrenatum Redband parrotfish, Glover's Reef, Belize
Redband parrotfish, INtermediate phase
FISH 3194 Sparisoma aurofrenatum Redband parrotfish, Intermediate phase, Glover's Reef, Belize.

Sparisoma viride Stoplight parrotfish

Sparisoma viride Stoplight parrotfish initial phase at night, Glover's Reef, Belize
Sparisoma viride Stoplight parrotfish, juvenile phase, Glover's Reef, Belize
Sparisoma viride, Stoplight parrotfish

FISH 3290 Sparisoma viride, Stoplight parrotfish IP, Glover's Reef, Belize.

 

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