Home · Scaridae · Candelamoa parrotfish
Candelamoa parrotfish (Hipposcarus harid) — Scaridae

Candelamoa parrotfish

Hipposcarus harid
Family: Scaridae

The Candelamoa parrotfish (Hipposcarus harid) is a saltwater fish of the family Scaridae that grows up to 75 cm.

Length
75 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–25.0 m
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Sri Lanka, Bassas da India, Djibouti, India, Indonesia, Israel and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Candelamoa parrotfish?

Get the app

Description

The candelamoa parrotfish is a parrotfish (Scaridae) from the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean. The species grows to about 75 cm and has an elongate body and a beak-shaped mouth formed of fused teeth. Adult males are blue-green, females and juveniles greyish with a pale longitudinal band. As a reef-dweller it rasps algae and coral growth from reefs and seagrass beds, contributing to sand formation. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Candelamoa parrotfish?

The Candelamoa parrotfish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly green.

Where does the Candelamoa parrotfish live?

The Candelamoa parrotfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Sri Lanka, Bassas da India, Djibouti, India, Indonesia, Israel and others

How big does the Candelamoa parrotfish get?

The Candelamoa parrotfish grows to a maximum of about 75 cm. On average the species is around 35 cm.

Is the Candelamoa parrotfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Candelamoa parrotfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Candelamoa parrotfish edible?

Yes, the Candelamoa parrotfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Candelamoa parrotfish (Hipposcarus harid) — Scaridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Jacek Pietruszewski, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Candelamoa parrotfish (Hipposcarus harid) — Scaridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Alexander Vasenin (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Candelamoa parrotfish (Hipposcarus harid) — Scaridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Luis Thiem, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Candelamoa parrotfish (Hipposcarus harid) — Scaridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Alexandra Laking, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Candelamoa parrotfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Candelamoa parrotfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Candelamoa parrotfish sourced
Scientific name
Hipposcarus harid
Family
Scaridae
Other names
Candelamoa parrotfish; Candeloma parrotfish; Indian Ocean longnose parrotfish; Longnose parrotfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
75.0 verified
Average length (cm)
35.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred
Mouth position
Beak-shaped sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Sri Lanka, Bassas da India, Djibouti, India, Indonesia, Israel and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae, seaweeds and plant material inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Hipposcarus

More from the family Scaridae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Candelamoa parrotfish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Candelamoa parrotfish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Candelamoa parrotfish? Get the app