BRIDLED PARROTFISH
Scarus frenatus
Scarus frenatus Lacepède, 1802 Pectoral rays 14-15 (usually 14); median predorsal scales 6-7, preceded by a medial pair of small scales; 3 rows of scales on cheek, the lower row with 2-4 scales; adults with 0-2 conical teeth posteriorly on side of upper dental plate; lips nearly covering dental plates; caudal fin truncate in small adults, the lobes prolonged in large individuals; initial phase brownish yellow to reddish brown, usually paler on caudal peduncle, with 6 dark brown stripes on side of body following centers of scale rows; dental plates white; fins red; terminal male green, the scales of body anterior to caudal peduncle with vermiculations of orange or rose pink; head pink with green vermiculations, the upper lip pink with a middle green band that continues across head below eye and branches ventrally to green bands on lower lip and chin; caudal peduncle solid green, this color continuing onto caudal fin except for a large, pink, crescentic area with green markings; dental plates blue-green; small juveniles green with 4 whitish stripes and vertical rows of whitish spots; larger juveniles reddish brown, becoming white posteriorly. Largest specimen examined, 47 cm. Occurs throughout most of the Indo-Pacific region except for the Hawaiian Islands and Easter Island; type locality, Indo-Pacific region. Generally found on outer-reef areas exposed to wave action, sometimes in very shallow water. Scarus sexvittatus Rüppell and S. vermiculatus (Fowler & Bean) are synonyms.

NameBridled parrotfish 

Max Size47.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 2334); max. reported age: 20 years

Environmentreef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 20 m

Climatetropical; 32°N - 32°S

DistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Line and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Shark Bay, Western Australia and Lord Howe and Rapa islands. Absent from the Hawaiian Islands (Ref. 5439).

MorphologyDorsal spines(total): 9; Dorsal soft rays(total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9

BiologyUsually found on exposed outer reefs, sometimes in very shallow water (Ref. 2334). Juveniles occur among coral and rubble of lagoon reefs. Grazes on benthic algae (Ref. 30573). Generally solitary (Ref. 1602). Often in schools of mixed species when feeding (Ref. 48636).

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

Scarus frenatus

Species (Scarus frenatus) 14

Genus (Scarus) 148

Family (Scaridae) 228

Location (Paris Point Shallows) 75

Scarus frenatus

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