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Filament-finned parrotfish (Scarus altipinnis) — Scaridae

Filament-finned parrotfish

Scarus altipinnis
Family: Scaridae

The Filament-finned parrotfish (Scarus altipinnis) is a saltwater fish of the family Scaridae that grows up to 60 cm.

Length
60 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–50.0 m
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Cook Is., Tahiti, French Polynesia and others

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Description

The Filament-finned parrotfish is a parrotfish (Scaridae) from reef water of the western and central Pacific. The species grows to about 60 cm and has a green body with blue and pink tints body; adult (terminal-phase) males are often more vividly blue-green marked. With a parrot-like beak formed from fused jaws it rasps algae from coral and rock and grinds the limestone fine, contributing to the formation of reef sand. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Filament-finned parrotfish?

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

Where does the Filament-finned parrotfish live?

The Filament-finned parrotfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Cook Is., Tahiti, French Polynesia and others

How big does the Filament-finned parrotfish get?

The Filament-finned parrotfish grows to a maximum of about 60 cm. On average the species is around 41 cm.

Is the Filament-finned parrotfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Filament-finned 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.

More photos

Filament-finned parrotfish (Scarus altipinnis) — Scaridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Filament-finned parrotfish (Scarus altipinnis) — Scaridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Kaely Woods, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Filament-finned parrotfish (Scarus altipinnis) — Scaridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Thibaud Aronson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA))
Filament-finned parrotfish (Scarus altipinnis) — Scaridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) tluisaw, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Filament-finned parrotfish sourced
Scientific name
Scarus altipinnis
Family
Scaridae
Other names
Filament-finned parrot fish; Filamentfinned parrotfish; Filament-finned parrotfish; High-fin parrotfish; Highfinned parrotfish; Minifin parrotfish; Filament finned parrotfish; Mini-fin parrotfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
60.0 verified
Average length (cm)
41.0 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)
50.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Cook Is., Tahiti, French Polynesia and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

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 Scarus

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 Globehead parrotfish (Scarus globiceps) — Scaridae
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 Brownbanded parrotfish (Scarus fuscocaudalis) — Scaridae
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 Blue parrotfish (Scarus oviceps) — Scaridae
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 Bower's parrotfish (Chlorurus bowersi) — Scaridae
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Fin

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