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Schlegel's parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli) — Scaridae

Schlegel's parrotfish

Scarus schlegeli
Family: Scaridae

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

Length
40 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, Myanmar, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Christmas I. and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Schlegel's parrotfish is a parrotfish (Scaridae) from reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a green body with a conspicuous blue crossband over the head 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 Schlegel's parrotfish?

The Schlegel's parrotfish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly green.

Where does the Schlegel's parrotfish live?

The Schlegel's parrotfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Myanmar, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Christmas I. and others

How big does the Schlegel's parrotfish get?

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

Is the Schlegel's parrotfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Schlegel'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 Schlegel's parrotfish edible?

Yes, the Schlegel's parrotfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Schlegel's parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli) — Scaridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Sue Churchill, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Schlegel's parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli) — Scaridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Yi-Kai Tea (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Schlegel's parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli) — Scaridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Schlegel's parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli) — Scaridae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Schlegel's parrotfish sourced
Scientific name
Scarus schlegeli
Family
Scaridae
Other names
Parrotfish; Schlegel's parrotfish; Yellowband parrotfish; Five-banded parrotfish; Yellowbar parrotfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
40.0 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, Myanmar, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Christmas I. 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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