Palemargin Parrotfish, Scarus fuscocaudalis Randall & Myers 2000

Other Names: Darktail Parrotfish

Summary:

Terminal males are pink and green, with blue and pink stripes ventrally, a blue head with pink stripes (a broad one from the snout through the lower eye to the pectoral-fin base, and one from behind the eye across the upper part of the gill cover). The caudal fin has a purple central part, a green central margin, and a pink submarginal band on the caudal-fin lobes.
Initial phase fish are brownish-pink to rose pink, with a green throat and thorax, and green stripes across the abdomen. The caudal fin is blackish with orange lobes and a broad whitish margin.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2021, Scarus fuscocaudalis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 25 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5618

Palemargin Parrotfish, Scarus fuscocaudalis Randall & Myers 2000

More Info

Distribution	Hibernia Reef, Timor Sea, Western Australia. Elsewhere the species occurs in Guam, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, Philippines, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Marshall Islands. Small groups inhabit coastal to outer reef crests and along drop-offs.
Features	Dorsal fin IX, 10; Anal fin III, 9; Vertebrae 25. Median predorsal scales 4; Cheek scale rows 3, upper row 6-7 scales, middle row 6 scales, lower row 1-2 scales; laterally projecting canines posteriorly on side of dental plates of adults 1-2; lips covering more than 3/4 of dental plates; dorsal fin moderately high, longest dorsal spine 2.1-2.6 in head length; caudal fin truncate in young, double marginate in initial-phase fish, and somewhat lunate in terminal males.
Colour	Initial phase fish brownish-pink to rose pink, the throat and thorax green with green stripes extending posteriorly across abdomen; naked part of caudal fin blackish with orange lobes and a broad whitish posterior margin; body of terminal males pink and green, with blue and pink stripes ventrally; head blue with pink stripes (a broad one on snout passing through lower eye to pectoral-fin base, and another from behind eye across upper part of operculum); naked part of caudal fin purple centrally, green posteriorly, the lobes blue with a pink submarginal band.
Etymology	The specific name fuscocaudalis is from the Latin fuscus (= dark, dusky) and caudalis (= of the tail), in reference to 'the large central portion of the caudal fin of the initial phase. The name is also appropriate for the terminal male which can have a dark purple area centrally in the caudal fin.'
Author	Bray, D.J. 2021
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Palemargin Parrotfish, Scarus fuscocaudalis Randall & Myers 2000

References

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp.

Kuiter, R.H., 1992. Tropical reef-fishes of the western Pacific Indonesia and adjacent waters. Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Jakarta. 314 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. & Tonozuka, T. 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 2. Fusiliers - Dragonets, Caesionidae - Callionymidae. Australia : Zoonetics pp. 304-622.

Randall, J.E. & Myers, R.F. 2000. Scarus fuscocaudalis, a new species of parrotfish (Perciformes: Labroidei: Scaridae) from the western Pacific. Micronesica 32(2): 221–228.

Russell, B., Myers, R., Choat, J.H., Clements, K.D., Rocha, L.A., Lazuardi, M.E., Muljadi, A., Pardede, S. & Rahardjo, P. 2012. Scarus fuscocaudalis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: e.T190702A17790500. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190702A17790500.en. Downloaded on 04 July 2021.

Westneat, M.W. & Alfaro, M.E. 2005. Phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary history of the reef fish family Labridae. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 36: 370–390.