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Blue-faced parrotfish (Scarus prasiognathos) — Scaridae

Blue-faced parrotfish

Scarus prasiognathos
Family: Scaridae
LC · Least Concern

The Blue-faced parrotfish (Scarus prasiognathos) is a saltwater fish of the family Scaridae that grows up to 70 cm.

Length
70 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–25.0 m
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The blue-faced parrotfish is a large parrotfish (Scaridae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species reaches about 70 cm and has a robust body and a beak-like jaw with which it scrapes algae from the reef. It occurs on seaward slopes and reef flats and also enters shallow water in protected areas; it often forms large schools. The adult males are green to blue-green with a conspicuous green throat, to which the name refers. The species is a protogynous hermaphrodite and is caught with nets and eaten in parts of its range.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blue-faced parrotfish?

The Blue-faced parrotfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly green and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Blue-faced parrotfish live?

The Blue-faced parrotfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Blue-faced parrotfish get?

The Blue-faced parrotfish grows to a maximum of about 70 cm. On average the species is around 40 cm.

Is the Blue-faced parrotfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blue-faced parrotfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Blue-faced parrotfish edible?

Yes, the Blue-faced parrotfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Groenkeel-papegaaivis sourced
English name
Blue-faced parrotfish verified
Scientific name
Scarus prasiognathos
Family
Scaridae
Other names
Dusky parrotfish; Greencheek parrotfish; Green-face parrotfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
70.0 verified
Average length (cm)
40.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Green inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Scarus

More from the family Scaridae

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