EMBER PARROTFISH
Scarus rubroviolaceus
Scarus rubroviolaceus Bleeker, 1847 Pectoral rays 14-16 (usually 15); median predorsal scales 6; 3 rows of scales on cheek, with 1-3 (usually 2) scales in lower row; initial phase with 0-1 conical teeth on side of upper dental plate, terminal males with 1-3; lips covering half or more of dental plates; body moderately elongate, the depth 2.75-3.1 in standard length; dorsal profile of head very steep to level of eye, then curving sharply, the remaining contour to dorsal-fin origin nearly straight; caudal fin of initial phase slightly emarginate, of large terminal males lunate; initial phase reddish brown to gray, shading to light red ventrally, the scales of body with small black spots, irregular lines, and rimmed with black; fins red; dental plates white; terminal males green, the scale edges narrowly pink, with a wash of salmon pink or pale yellow over side of body, continuing anteriorly onto cheek; upper lip narrowly edged in salmon pink; lower lip edged in blue-green, separated by a salmon pink band from a blue-green band across chin, the lip and chin green bands joining at corner of mouth and extending to eye; dental plates blue-green; adults of both color phases able to darken the head and anterior body to pectoral-fin tips (brown on initial phase and purplish gray on the terminal males); juveniles white with 3 brown stripes partially broken by vertical rows of white blotches. Attains 70 cm. East coast of Africa to Hawaiian Islands, Line Islands, and French Polynesia except Rapa and Austral Islands; Ryukyu Islands and Ogasawara Islands to Great Barrier Reef, New South Wales, and New Caledonia; in Western Australia south to Point Quobba; type locality, Java; also known from the tropical eastern Pacific; usually found on seaward reefs or exposed rocky shores. Scarus jordani (Jenkins) is one of 9 synonyms. Also known as the Redlip Parrotfish.

NameEmber parrotfish 

Max Size70.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 2334); max. reported age: 20 years

Environmentreef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 36 m

Climatetropical; 30°N - 27°S

DistributionIndo-Pacific: East Africa south to Durban, South Africa (Ref. 5490) and east to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu and Hawaiian islands, south to Shark Bay, Western Australia and the southern Great Barrier Reef. Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to the Galapagos Islands (Ref. 5227).

MorphologyDorsal spines(total): 9; Dorsal soft rays(total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9. Some geographical variations. Indonesia adults usually have darker front half that is defined into a broad pale band at night (Ref. 48636). Males develop a gibbus forehead.

BiologyOccurs in seaward reefs. Usually over rocky or coral substrates, at boulder-strewn slopes at the base of high-island cliffs where it may occur in large schools. Large adults usually on upper parts of deep slopes, but seen to about 35 m depth (Ref. 48636). Feeds on benthic algae (Ref. 30573). An uncommon species (Ref. 9338).

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

Scarus rubroviolaceus

Species (Scarus rubroviolaceus) 24

Genus (Scarus) 148

Family (Scaridae) 228

Location (Fire Station) 812

Scarus rubroviolaceus

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