Purple Tuskfish, Choerodon cephalotes (Castelnau 1875)

Other Names: Grass Parrot, Grass Tuskfish, Purple Tusk-fish, Tuskfish

Summary:

A greenish-brown tuskfish becoming creamy-white below, blue-edged body scales on sides, some individuals with a with a dark patch on the upper side from behind the pectoral fin to upper part of the caudal peduncle, a 4-5 blue orange lines across the forehead, and many small orange spots on the cheek.
Body scales edged with blue giving sides uneven banded appearance. No small prominent black spot on side. A horizontally elongate dusky blotch present below centre of fin in some specimens. Head with many small orange spots on cheek, forehead crossed by 4 or 5 sets of alternating blue and orange stripes.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2017, Choerodon cephalotes in Fishes of Australia, accessed 19 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1921

Purple Tuskfish, Choerodon cephalotes (Castelnau 1875)

More Info

Distribution	Shark Bay, Western Australia, to Sydney, New South Wales. Elsewhere the species occurs in the tropical, West Pacific. Inhabits open rubble areas and seagrass beds at depths of 0.3–80 m. Juveniles occasionally occur on algal covered reefs in estuaries.
Features	Dorsal fin XVI-XIII, 6-7; Anal fin III, 10; Pectoral fin rays ii, 16-17, dorsal-most ray of moderate length 36.4–53.1% pectoral fin length, ventral-most rays shorter than those above, posterior edge of fin obliquely straight, dorsoposterior corner bluntly pointed, posteroventral corner angular. Body moderately deep, 37.0–42.2% SL, head depth 27.9–36.8% SL, caudal peduncle depth 12.1–17.8% SL; head blunt, dorsal profile of snout steep, snout length 12.8– 18.3% SL; second prominent anterior canine in lower jaw distinctly smaller than first in adults, directed dorsolaterally and curved slightly posteriorly. Predorsal scales approximately 5 or 6, reaching forward on dorsal midline to above posterior edge of preopercle; cheek with small mostly embedded scales in about 1–5 diagonal rows, posteriormost with about 4 or 5 scales to upper extent of free preopercular edge, variably reaching forward from below eye posteriorly to nearly corner of upper lip crease above mouth, with very broad naked margin posteriorly and ventrally on preopercle; tiny patch of about 1–3 scales in one or two rows on dorsal end of subopercle adjacent preopercular edge; each lateral line scale with multiple branching laterosensory canal tube; scales above lateral line about 3½; cephalic sensory canal pores extremely numerous especially anteriorly and posteriorly in front of predorsal scales; second pair of canines in lower jaw directed anterodorsally and curved slightly to strongly laterally. Dorsal and anal fins with low basal sheath comprising 1–3 progressively smaller accessory scales at deepest; posterior lobe of dorsal and anal fins reaching well past hypural crease in large individuals; caudal fin rounded to broadly pointed centrally; pelvic fin reaching to base of second anal fin ray in large individuals, length 22.0–33.2% SL.
Colour	Body scales edged with blue giving sides uneven banded appearance. No small prominent black spot on side. A horizontally elongate dusky blotch present below centre of fin in some specimens. Head with many small orange spots on cheek, forehead crossed by 4 or 5 sets of alternating blue and orange stripes.
Feeding	Feeds mostly on hard-shelled prey including crabs, molluscs and sea urchins.
Fisheries	Taken in recreational and commercial fisheries in northern Australia.
Remarks	The species may also occur in south-eastern Indonesia.
Etymology	The specific name cephalotes is from the Greek kephalotos meaning “headed”, possibly in reference to the large colourful head of this species.
Species Citation	Choerops cephalotes Castelnau 1875, Intercolonial Exhibition Essays 2: 39. Type locality: Cape York.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2017
Resources	Australian Faunal Directory Synonyms: Choerops perpulcher De Vis, 1885: 877, Moreton Bay (Queensland) Choerodon macleayi Ramsay & Ogliby, 1887a: 241, Port Jackson (New South Wales) Choerops Hodgkinsonii Saville-Kent, 1893: 296, 370, pl. 15, fig. 2, Port Denison (Queensland)

Purple Tuskfish, Choerodon cephalotes (Castelnau 1875)

References

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