BICOLOUR PARROTFISH
Cetoscarus bicolor
Cetoscarus bicolor (Rüppell, 1829) Pectoral rays 14-15 (usually 14); median predorsal scales 5-7 (usually 6); 3 rows of scales on cheek, the lower row with 3-7 scales; outer surface of dental plates nodular (smooth on Chlorurus, Hipposcarus, and Scarus); no conical teeth on side of dental plates; lips largely covering dental plates; snout long, 1.8-2.2 in head length; caudal fin rounded in juveniles, emarginate in adults; head of initial phase purplish to reddish brown, finely spotted with black ventrally; body with a broad, pale yellowish zone dorsally, bluish gray below, the scales rimmed and spotted with black; median fins brownish red, the caudal with a whitish crescent posteriorly; terminal males green, the scales rimmed with pink, the head and anterior body with numerous small pink spots except below an orange line from corner of mouth to pectoral base and across upper abdomen, where solid green with a broad, pink, longitudinal ventral band; juveniles white with a broad, dark-edged orange bar covering head except snout and chin, a large, orange-rimmed black spot anteriorly in dorsal fin, and a broad, submarginal orange band in caudal fin. Attains about 80 cm. Red Sea (type locality) and east coast of Africa to Society Islands and Tuamotu Archipelago; southern Japan to Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. Cetoscarus pulchellus (Rüppell) is a synonym based on the terminal-male phase (Randall, 1963c).

NameBicolour parrotfish 

Max Size90.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 2871)

Environmentreef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 30 m

Climatetropical; 24 - 28°C; 33°N - 24°S

DistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Izu Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef.

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

BiologyOccurs in clear lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 1602). Juveniles usually solitary; adults form harems (Ref. 9710); males are territorial. Goes to several changes during growth and very large females change sex to the brightly colored male. Small juveniles usually in dense coral and algae habitats (Ref. 48636). Benthic grazer of algae (Ref. 3488). Caught with nets and other types of artisanal gear.

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

Cetoscarus bicolor

Species (Cetoscarus bicolor) 9

Genus (Cetoscarus) 9

Family (Scaridae) 228

Location (Similan Islands) 60

Cetoscarus bicolor

ITIS (United States - Interagency Taxonomic Information System)

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