SCARIDAE


Scarus viridifucatus, 9.9 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Scarus viridifucatus
(Smith, 1956)
Blue-green Snout Parrotfish

D IX, 10; A III, 9; P1 13-15; GR 39-46.

Head obtusely rounded anteriorly. Teeth fused to form dental plates; dental plates relatively smooth; lips covering from three-fourths to all of dental plates; initial-phase fish with 0-1 canines posteriorly on upper dental plates, and 0-2 on lower; terminal males with 1-2 canines on both jaws; 3 rows of scales on cheek; median predorsal scales 3-5; caudal fin of initialphase truncate, of terminal males slightly to moderately emarginate. Color: initial phase dark brown, sometimes with 5 faint irregular pale bars of 1 or 2 vertical scale rows on body; head dark reddish to orangish brown; iris reddish to orange; fins dark reddish to orangish brown. Terminal phase green, scales rimmed with salmon-pink; a large area of brilliant blue-green on side of snout and anterior cheek, usually joining a transverse band of same color on chin; upper lip, chin, and most of lower lip salmon-pink; dorsal and anal fins with a green basal band, light orange median band, and blue margin; caudal fin green, the lobes blue, and each with a salmon-pink submarginal band. Size: maximum length about 32 cm. Distribution: Indian Ocean, from East Africa to Andaman Sea and Bali. Remarks: found in shallow areas of coral reefs including reef flats and reef fronts.