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Blue chub (Scarus taeniopterus) — Scaridae

Blue chub

Scarus taeniopterus
Family: Scaridae
LC · Least Concern

The Blue chub (Scarus taeniopterus) is a saltwater fish of the family Scaridae that grows up to 35 cm.

Length
35 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–25.0 m
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Venomous / poisonous
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The princess parrotfish is a parrotfish of the family Scaridae from the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species grows to about 35 cm; the colour differs strongly by sex phase, from brown with white stripes in juveniles and females to green-blue with orange bands in adult males. It lives on coral and rocky bottoms; juveniles often stay among seagrass (Thalassia). With teeth fused into a parrot-like beak it scrapes algae from coral and rock, also grinding limestone into sand. Like many parrotfishes it changes sex during life, from female to male. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blue chub?

The Blue chub has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly green and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Blue chub live?

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

How big does the Blue chub get?

The Blue chub grows to a maximum of about 35 cm. On average the species is around 22 cm.

Is the Blue chub dangerous to humans?

The Blue chub is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed.

Is the Blue chub edible?

The Blue chub is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Prinses-papegaaivis sourced
English name
Blue chub verified
Scientific name
Scarus taeniopterus
Family
Scaridae
Other names
Painted-tail parrotfish; Princess parrotfish; Princess Parrotfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
35.0 verified
Average length (cm)
22.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes 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)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely 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
Venomous / poisonous 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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