WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Fivesaddle Parrotfish

Scarus scaber

Also known as: Dusky-capped Parrotfish, Yellow-barred Parrotfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 19
01

Overview

Found singly, or in small schools, foraging for food in shallow lagoons, with dense coral cover, 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

Pattern
bars

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Indian Ocean
  • Exact location · 1
  • Country only · 18
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in small schools, foraging for food in shallow lagoons, with dense coral cover, rich in algae growth.

04

Adult photos 19

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyScaridae
    2. genusScarus
    3. speciesScarus scaber Valenciennes, 1840

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)