Bluebarred Parrotfish, Scarus ghobban Forsskål 1775
Other Names: Blue Chin Parrotfish, Blue Trim Parrotfish, Blue-barred Orange Parrotfish, Blue-barred Orange Parrot-fish, Blue-barred Parrotfish, Flame-breasted Parrot-fish, Green Blotched Parrotfish, Yellow Scale Parrotfish, Yellowscale Parrotfish
A female (initial phase) Bluebarred Parrotfish, Scarus ghobban, in the lagoon at Lizard island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, May 2010. Source: Charlie Shuetrim / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
Males (terminal phase) are bluish to bluish-green with pinkish scale margins, two torquoise to greenish bands on the chin, and two behind the eye, a pinkish dorsal fin with a torquoise margin, and long caudal fin lobes.
Females (Initial phase) are dull yellowish to orange-brown with 4-5 irregular indistinct darker bars along the side, blue bands around the mouth and eye, and a blue fin margins.
Females (Initial phase) are dull yellowish to orange-brown with 4-5 irregular indistinct darker bars along the side, blue bands around the mouth and eye, and a blue fin margins.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2021, Scarus ghobban in Fishes of Australia, accessed 07 Oct 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2360
Bluebarred Parrotfish, Scarus ghobban Forsskål 1775
More Info
Distribution |
Rottnest Island, and offshore reefs of Western Australia, and Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, around the tropical north to at least Jervis Bay, New South Wales; also Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean, and the Lord Howe Province and Norfolk Island in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere the species is widespread in the tropical, Indo-Pacific. Inhabits sheltered inshore and lagoon reefs, often over sand/rubble areas. Juveniles prefer shallower lagoons, reef flats and patch reefs, usually around algal growth - and may enter silty inshore waters. |
Features |
Dorsal fin IX, 10; Anal fin III, 9; Pectoral fin 13-15; Median predorsal scales 6-8; Cheek scale rows 3: 1(6-7), 2(6-9), 3(3-5). Terminal phase males usually have 2 conical teeth on side of upper dental plate (absent in females), with lips mainly covering the plates. Caudal fin rounded in small females, with prolonged lobes in large adults. |
Feeding |
Feeds on feed on benthic turf algae and detritus scraped from dead corals. |
Biology |
Protogynous hermaphrodite. |
Fisheries |
Taken as bycatch in artisinal fisheries in many parts of its range. |
Similar Species |
The specific name ghobban is the Arabic name for this parrotfish along the Red Sea, the type locality. |
Species Citation |
Scarus ghobban Forsskål 1775, Descriptiones Animalium: 28. Type locality: Jeddah, Red Sea. |
Author |
Bray, D.J. 2021 |
Resources |
Bluebarred Parrotfish, Scarus ghobban Forsskål 1775
References
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