WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Marbled Parrotfish

Leptoscarus vaigiensis

Also known as: Blue-marbled Parrotfish, Blue-spotted Parrotfish, Petroleum Parrotfish, Seagrass Parrotfish, Slender Parrotfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@designedforx · KE, Kenya · July 20161 / 8
01

Overview

Found in schools, over hard bottoms and seagrass beds, of sheltered bays, harbours and lagoons, rich in algae growth.

Unlike other parrotfish these fish are not Hermaphrodites and are very similar in colour!

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.

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How to identify

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific, Southeast Atlantic
  • Exact location · 2
  • Country only · 6
LIVES IN

Found in schools, over hard bottoms and seagrass beds, of sheltered bays, harbours and lagoons, rich in algae growth.

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Adult photos 8

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyScaridae
    2. genusLeptoscarus
    3. speciesLeptoscarus vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)