Princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Scarus taeniopterus
- Common name
- Princess parrotfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Labridae
- Genus
- Scarus
- Size
- 20–35 cm
- Depth
- 3–25 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef
- Behaviours
- herbivorous, schooling
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Scarus taeniopterus reaches 35 cm, smaller than Queen parrotfish. Initial phase very recognizable: alternating longitudinal yellow and dark-purple-to-cream stripes. Terminal phase (male) green with pink and yellow patterns. Protogynous hermaphrodite. Grazes filamentous algae on Caribbean reefs from 3 to 25 m. Key member of the grazing guild that keeps reefs healthy.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Princess parrotfish?
- Princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus) reaches 20–35 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Princess parrotfish?
- Princess parrotfish is found between 3–25 m deep.
- Is the Princess parrotfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Princess parrotfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Princess parrotfish?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Scarus
- Scarus iseri - Striped parrotfish
- Scarus coelestinus - Midnight parrotfish
- Scarus coeruleus - Blue parrotfish
- Scarus vetula - Queen parrotfish
- Scarus perrico - Bumphead parrotfish Pacific
- Scarus ghobban - Blue-barred parrotfish (Eastern Pacific)
Other species in the family Labridae
- Labrus merula - Brown wrasse
- Bodianus rufus - Spanish hogfish
- Bodianus pulchellus - Cuban hogfish
- Halichoeres pictus - Rainbow wrasse
- Halichoeres cyanocephalus - Yellowcheek wrasse
- Sparisoma chrysopterum - Redtail parrotfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 276062)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2393734)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia