DUSKY PARROTFISH
Scarus niger
Forsskål, 1775 Pectoral rays 13-15 (usually 14); median predorsal scales 6-8 (usually 7), the fourth usually largest; 3 rows of scales on cheek, the lower row with 2-5 scales; initial phase usually without conical teeth on side of dental plates; terminal males usually with 2 on upper plate; dental plates largely covered by lips; caudal fin of small initial-phase fish slightly rounded; large adults with prolonged lobes; initial phase greenish gray, the scales narrowly rimmed with dark brown, those anteriorly on body with small dark brown spots; a small, black-edged, yellow-green spot at upper end of gill opening; head shading to orange anteriorly with a green band above upper lip, 1 on lower lip, and a third on chin continuing nearly to eye; body of terminal males green, the scales narrowly rimmed with dark reddish brown; head green with essentially the same green markings; pectoral fins magenta to red; juveniles dark brown with blue dots, shading to red on caudal peduncle and to white on caudal fin, with a large black spot basally at upper and lower edges of fin. Attains 35 cm. Red Sea (type locality) and East Africa to Society Islands and Tuamotu Archipelago; Ryukyu Islands and Ogasawara Islands to Great Barrier Reef, Lord Howe Island, and New Caledonia; in Western Australia south to Shark Bay. Males in courtship swim rapidly with the caudal fin angling upward and the posterior part of the anal fin downward.

NameDusky parrotfish 

Max Size40.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 5490)

Environmentreef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 15 m

Climatetropical; 30°N - 27°S

DistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa (Ref. 5490) and east to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Shark Bay, Western Australia and the southern Great Barrier Reef.

MorphologyDorsal spines(total): 9; Dorsal soft rays(total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9. The western Pacific population is monochromatic, but the western Indian Ocean population has a distinctive reddish primary phase. Juveniles recognized by the twin black spots on the tail (Ref. 48636).

BiologyInhabits coral-rich areas of clear lagoons, channels, and outer reef slopes (Ref. 9710). Generally solitary (Ref. 1602). Juveniles in small groups on algae and coral reefs inshore (Ref. 48636). Feeds on benthic algae (Ref. 30573). Males maintain small harems and pair spawn (Ref. 1602).

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

Scarus niger

Species (Scarus niger) 11

Genus (Scarus) 148

Family (Scaridae) 228

Location (Richelieu Rock) 29

Scarus niger

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