WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Dusky Parrotfish

Scarus niger

Also known as: Black Parrotfish, Swarthy Parrotfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Maldives · March 20081 / 45

Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.

01

Overview

Found singly, or in harems,, foraging for food, over clear water channels, lagoons, and outer reef slopes, rich in algae growth.

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

Head & Mouth
eye stripe

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Exact location · 7
  • Dive site · 1
  • Country only · 37
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in harems,, foraging for food, over clear water channels, lagoons, and outer reef slopes, rich in algae growth.

04

Adult photos 45

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

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

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)