Bicolor Scalyfin, Parma bicolor Allen & Larson 1979
Other Names: Bicolor Parma, Golden Parma, Golden Scalyfin
A Bicolor Scalyfin, Parma bicolor, at Albany, Western Australia. Source: Rick Stuart-Smith / Reef Life Survey. License: CC by Attribution
Summary:
A bicolored damselfish with a blue to greyish head and anterior back, and the rest of the body and fins bright yellow, with a pale blue margin on the dorsal and anal fins, and pale lips.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2025, Parma bicolor in Fishes of Australia, accessed 27 Jun 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2326
Bicolor Scalyfin, Parma bicolor Allen & Larson 1979
More Info
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Distribution |
Endemic to south-west Western Australia, from the Recherche Archipelago to off Two Rocks, north of Perth. Inhabits rocky reefs. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin XIV, 15-16; Anal fin II, 15; Pectoral fin 19-20; Pelvic fin I, 5; Caudal fin 15; Gill rakers (total) 20-23;Lateral-line scales 18-20. Body deep (approx. 55% SL), compressed, of moderate length. Head of moderate size (approx. 30% SL); eyes small (approx. 25% HL); mouth small, oblique; jaws with uniserial, elongate, narrow teeth having conical to nearly pointed tips. Scales ctenoid, large, covering body, most of head and fin bases, membranes of vertical fins mostly covered with small scales; lateral line interrupted, anterior segment following contour of back to below first few soft dorsal fin rays; posterior segment originating immediately below on midline of side, continuing to base of caudal fin. Dorsal fin continuous, with elongate base, spines of similar length, soft portion much taller than spinous portion, somewhat triangular in profile; anal fin opposite and similar, though somewhat lower and more lobe like than posterior half of dorsal fin; caudal fin forked, tips pointed. Pectoral and pelvic fins pointed, of moderate size, pelvics thoracic. |
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Colour |
Head, anterior half of body above pectoral fins and about half of spinous portion of dorsal fin grey; remainder of body and fins brilliant yellow; horizontal edge of dorsal and anal fins, and anterior edge of each ventral fin iridescent blue; lips pale. |
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Biology |
Males guard and aerate the eggs. |
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Fisheries |
Infrequently sold in the aquarium trade. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin bicolor (= two colours), in reference to the bicolored body - blue to greyish along the upper head and back, and bright yellow below. |
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Species Citation |
Parma bicolor Allen & Larson 1979, Revue Française d'Aquariologie et Herpétologie 6(1): 12, figs 1, 3, 4. Type locality: Mondrain Island, Recherche Archipelago, Western Australia, about 34°07'S, 122°15'E, depth 10-20 m. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2025 |
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Resources |
Bicolor Scalyfin, Parma bicolor Allen & Larson 1979
References
Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Melle, Germany : Mergus Verlag 271 pp.
Allen, G. R. 2001. Family Pomacentridae. in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 6 pp. 3381-4218.
Allen, G.R. 2022. Parma bicolor. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T188549A1891366. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T188549A1891366.en. Accessed on 28 April 2025.
Allen, G.R. & Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Pomacentridae. pp. 634-638 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.
Allen, G.R. & Larson, H.K. 1979. Parma bicolor, a new species of damselfish from southwestern Australia. Revue Française d'Aquariologie et Herpétologie 6(1): 11-14 figs 1-4
Hoschke, A., Whisson, G. & Moore, G.I. 2019. Complete list of fishes from Rottnest Island. pp. 150-161 in Whisson, G. & Hoschke, A. (eds). The Rottnest Island fish book. 2nd ed. Perth : Aqua Research and Monitoring Services.
Hutchins, J.B. 1994. A survey of the nearshore reef fish fauna of Western Australia's west and south coasts — The Leeuwin Province. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 46: 1-66 figs 1-6
Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Biodiversity of shallow reef fish assemblages in Western Australia using a rapid censusing technique. Records of the Western Australian Museum 20: 247-270
Kuiter, R.H. 1994. Family Pomacentridae. pp. 668-675, figs 586-591 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp.
Saunders, B.J., Harvey, E.S. & Kendrick, G.A. 2014. Factors influencing and habitat associations in an endemic group of temperate Western Australian reef fishes over a latitudinal gradient. Marine Ecology Progress Series 517: 193-208. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11000
