WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Blue-barred Parrotfish

Scarus ghobban

Also known as: Blue-barred Orange Parrotfish, Bluechin Parrotfish, Blue-chinned Parrotfish, Bluetrim Parrotfish, Cream Parrotfish, Flame-breasted Parrotfish, Globe-headed Parrotfish, Green-blotched Parrotfish, Yellowscale Parrotfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@JarJar · TH, Thailand · March 20171 / 61
01

Overview

Found singly, or in small schools, foraging for food over drop-offs and slopes, of lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in algae growth.
Juveniles found in schools over inshore reefs.
Widespread Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Pacific, Indo-Pacific

Parrotfish are hermaphrodites and live in harems with a dominant male. They are not territorial, living and feeding in harmony with other species.
Their teeth are fused into powerful beaks which are used for grabbing filamentous algae from dead coral, often found feeding in a cloud of sediment.
At night parrotfish make a sleeping bag out of slime bubbles for protection against predators.
These beautiful fish whose males usually outshine the females for colour also change dramatically from juvenile to adult.

02

How to identify

Pattern
bars

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific, Eastern Pacific, Mediterranean
  • Exact location · 29
  • Country only · 32
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in small schools, foraging for food over drop-offs and slopes, of lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in algae growth.

04

Adult photos 61

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyScaridae
    2. genusScarus
    3. speciesScarus ghobban Forsskål, 1775

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)