WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Pacific Longnose Parrotfish

Hipposcarus longiceps

Also known as: Longnose Parrotfish, Long-nosed Parrotfish, Pacific Longnose, Pacific Long-nosed Parrotfish, Redstripe Parrotfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@Irishrover · Raja Ampat, Indonesia · November 20191 / 22
01

Overview

Found in schools, foraging for food, over murky lagoons and outer reefs 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
mottled
Fins & Tail
yellow tail

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Pacific Ocean
  • Exact location · 1
  • Country only · 21
LIVES IN

Found in schools, foraging for food, over murky lagoons and outer reefs rich in algae growth.

04

Adult photos 22

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyScaridae
    2. genusHipposcarus
    3. speciesHipposcarus longiceps (Valenciennes, 1840)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)