Masked parrotfish
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Masked Parrotfish ( Cetoscarus bicolor ) |
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| Cetoscarus bicolor | ||||||||||||
| ( Rüppell , 1829) |
The masked parrotfish ( Cetoscarus bicolor ) is a species of fish from the subfamily of parrotfish (Scarinae) in the wrasse family (Labridae). It is endemic to the Red Sea .
description
The masked parrotfish is a large parrotfish and grows to a length of 45 to 50 cm, up to a maximum of 90 cm TL . According to Rüppell's first description , the head is somewhat elongated with a parabolic profile. The overgrown teeth, which are jagged at the edge, are covered by the upper lip. The sidelines are broken and ramified. Rüppell sees the coloring by a line from the eye socket up to the base of the caudal fin, separated into a light grass-green upper part and a brown-green lower part and head. A reddish border surrounds the edge of the upper lip. The fins are dark green, the outer edge of the dorsal and anal fins light blue. The somewhat forked caudal fin is lined with yellowish tones. The iris is yellow-brown. Rüppell counted 14 soft rays in the pectoral fins , 1 hard ray and 5 soft rays in the ventral fins , 8 hard and 12 soft rays in the dorsal fin and 2 hard and 9 soft rays in the anal fin and 13 rays in the caudal fin.
- Fins formula according FishBase : D IX / 10, A III / 9
distribution and habitat
The masked parrotfish is endemic to the Red Sea. He lives in coral reefs. It can usually be found in clear lagoons and outer reefs at depths between 1 m and 30 m. Small juveniles can usually be found among the dense corals and algae-rich habitats.
Way of life
Young animals usually live solitary . Adult animals can be found in harem associations, male masked parrotfish are territorial. During development they go through several phases , very large females change their sex and become brightly colored males. The masked parrot fish feeds mainly by grazing on algae.
use
The masked parrotfish is caught as a food fish , especially on the east coast of the Red Sea . Young animals are collected for the aquarium hobby.
Taxonomy
The masked parrotfish was first described by Rüppell as Scarus bicolor . The sister species Cetoscarus bicolor from the Red Sea is differentiated from the similar species Cetoscarus ocellatus , which is widespread in the Indo-Pacific .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f Masked Parrotfish on Fishbase.org (English)
- ↑ a b c Cetoscarus bicolor in the Red List of Threatened Species of IUCN 2017-1. Posted by:, JH Choat et al. , 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
- ^ A b Edouard von Rüppell, 1828-30: Atlas on the journey in northern Africa. Fish of the Red Sea, part 4, p. 82.
- ↑ Joseph D. DiBattista et al. : On the origin of endemic species in the Red Sea. 2016 in: Journal of Biogeography 43, pp. 13–30. ( Online )
Web links
- Masked Parrotfish on Fishbase.org (English)
- Cetoscarus bicolor inthe IUCN 2017-1 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by:, JH Choat et al. , 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2017.