Scarus spinus


Scarus spinus, the Greensnout parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish from the family Labridae.

Description

Scarus spinus can reach a total length of about 30 cm. These fishes have 10 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines and 9 anal soft rays. Males show a bright yellow head underwater, while females are drab with white teeth and some pale spots. Caudal fin is moderately to deeply emarginate in terminal phase. Lips largely cover dental plates.

Distribution and habitat

This species can be found on Christmas Island and from the Philippines to Samoa, the Ryukyu Islands and the southern Great Barrier Reef. The Greensnout parrotfish inhabits coral-rich areas of outer lagoon and seaward reefs, at a depth range 0 - 30 m.

Biology

It appears specialized in scraping crustose coralline algae with its jaw. It can change gender from female to male.