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Quoy's parrotfish (Scarus quoyi) — Scaridae

Quoy's parrotfish

Scarus quoyi
Family: Scaridae

The Quoy's parrotfish (Scarus quoyi) is a saltwater fish of the family Scaridae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–18.0 m
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is. and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Quoy's parrotfish is a parrotfish (Scaridae) from reef water of the western Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a green body with pink scale edges and yellow 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 Quoy's parrotfish?

The Quoy's parrotfish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly green.

Where does the Quoy's parrotfish live?

The Quoy's parrotfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is. and others

How big does the Quoy's parrotfish get?

The Quoy's parrotfish grows to a maximum of about 40 cm.

Is the Quoy's parrotfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Quoy's 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 Quoy's parrotfish edible?

Yes, the Quoy's parrotfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Quoy's parrotfish (Scarus quoyi) — Scaridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Quoy's parrotfish (Scarus quoyi) — Scaridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) ulexeuropaeus, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Quoy's parrotfish (Scarus quoyi) — Scaridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) craigjhowe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Quoy's parrotfish (Scarus quoyi) — Scaridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Thomas Menut, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Quoy's parrotfish sourced
Scientific name
Scarus quoyi
Family
Scaridae
Other names
Green-blotched parrotfish; Parrotfish; Quoy's parrotfish; Greenblotch parrotfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
40.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) 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)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
18.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Ryukyu Is. 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

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 Scarus

More from the family Scaridae

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