FILAMENT-FINNED PARROTFISH
Scarus altipinnis
Scarus altipinnis (Steindachner, 1879) Pectoral rays 15; median predorsal scales 5-6; 3 rows of scales on cheek, the lower row with 1-3 scales; 1 or 2 conical teeth on side of upper dental plate; dental plates exposed, dark green in both color phases; spinous portion of dorsal fin distinctly higher than soft portion, the distal part of last spine and first soft rays extended as a short filament in adults; caudal fin rounded, the lobes prolonged in adults; initial phase reddish brown with 4 or 5 vertical series of small whitish spots on body; terminal male green, the scales narrowly edged with pink, those on anterior half of body densely spotted with pink; head lavender-gray with many small green spots and a few short green lines, shading to pale salmon pink ventrally; lips edged in bright salmon, the mouth surrounded by a broad, irregular, deep blue-green band that continues ventrally on head; juveniles dark gray with 4 vertical rows of white spots, whitish on caudal peduncle, and yellow on anterior head; dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins translucent with large black blotches. Attains about 50 cm. Great Barrier Reef and islands of Oceania except the Hawaiian Islands and Easter Island; type locality, southern Gilbert Islands (Kiribati). Usually found on seaward reefs, sometimes in large aggregations. Scarus brevifilis (Günther) is a synonym. Terminal males sometimes misidentified as S. chlorodon Jenyns, a synonym of S. prasiognathos Valenciennes of the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

NameFilament-finned parrotfish 

Max Size60.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 9710)

Environmentreef-associated; marine; depth range - 50 m

Climatetropical; 32°N - 32°S

DistributionPacific Ocean: Ryukyu Island to the Line and Ducie Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe and Rapa Islands; throughout Micronesia.

MorphologyDorsal spines(total): 9; Dorsal soft rays(total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9. This is the only Scarus in which one of the middle dorsal rays of terminal males is produced into a slightly elongate filament. Small juveniles have a distinctive yellow head and striped to mottled body (Ref. 1602).

BiologyAdults usually seen along the reef margin of seaward reefs while juveniles and subadults are found in shallow protected reefs (Ref. 9710). Feeds mainly on algae (Ref. 26993). Occurs to a depth of over 50 m (Ref. 1602). Adults and subadults form groups, juveniles usually solitary (Ref. 9710).

Fishbase Credit - Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2005.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (06/2005).

Scarus altipinnis

Species (Scarus altipinnis) 10

Genus (Scarus) 148

Family (Scaridae) 228

Location (Paris Point Shallows) 75

Scarus altipinnis

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