Globehead Parrotfish

Primary phases of S. globiceps, S. psittacus and S. rivulatus are difficult to distinguish from one another. S. globiceps differs in that it is the only one with 3 scale rows and 5 or more scales in the ventral row.

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154).

Inhabits lagoons, seaward reefs, and reef flats (Ref. 90102). More common in outer reef habitats than in protected waters. Spawns in groups or in pairs. Feeds on benthic algae (Ref. 89972). Caught mainly with traps, nets and other types of artisanal gear.

fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

Scarus lepidus Jenyns

Scarus lepidus Jenyns, 1842, p. 108.—Schultz, 1958, p. 81, pls. 3C, 15B, C.—Kamohara, 1963, p. 13, pl. 4: fig. 3 [Japan].

Callyodon lepidus.—Smith, 1959, p. 279, pl. 41J.

Callyodon forsteni.—Kamohara, 1960, p. 26.

See Schultz (1958, p. 81) for other synonyms.

Characterized by 5 to 7 median predorsal scales, 3 rows of scales on cheek with 2 to 6 (usually 3 or 4) scales in 3rd or ventral row; pectoral rays ii,12, very rarely ii,13; lips not covering pink or white teeth. Color in alcohol: body brownish or blackish above level of lower edge of pectoral base, lower part of head and lower side pale; pectoral base dark brown. When alive, a brilliant blue area extending posteriorly from gill opening lengthwise along body, ending just beyond tip of depressed pectoral fin; throat, chin, and upper and lower lips pink; dorsal and caudal fins orange; anal pink.

I have examined from the Te Vega expeditions recently collected specimens as follows: USNM 202737, Guam, Tumon Bay, 2 spec. 85–136 mm; Solomons, 4 spec, 131–180 mm; Moorea, 3 spec, 43–135 mm; Tuomotu, 12 spec, 34–83 mm; USNM 202692, Papeete Market, 1 spec, 275 mm.

RANGE.—Central and western Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean.

Scarus fasciatus Cuvier and Valenciennes

Scarus fasciatus Cuvier and Valenciennes 1839, p. 222.—Schultz, 1958, p. 82, pl. 15D.—Kamohara, 1963, p. 14, pl. 4: fig. 4 [Japan].—Woodland and Slack-Smith, 1963, p. 45 [Heron Island].—Kamohara and Yamakawa, 1967, p. 14 [Ishigakijima].

Callyodon fasciatus.—Marshall, 1965, p. 322—Munro, 1967, p. 440, fig. 840 [New Guinea].

Scarus rivulatus Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1839, p. 223.—Bauchot and Guibè, 1960, p. 297 [holotype no. 1738 in Paris Musuem].

Characterized by having 6 or 7 median predorsal scales, 3 rows of scales on cheek, with 2 or 3 scales in ventral row; ii,12 pectoral fin rays; lips nearly covering white teeth; base of pectoral fin dusky; anal with blue or green edges, basal three-fourths of anal reddish brown; middle of dorsal fin with green spots, the edge blue or green, then submarginally orange, then basally reddish brown, base narrowly green; head reticulated with narrow red and green streaks, those on lower jaws bluish; edges of pectoral and pelvics blue, then a red streak on pelvics, remainder of fin greenish; caudal fin may have large spots.

RANGE.—Western Pacific Ocean.

分布於印度-太平洋區，由東非到萊恩群島與社會群島，北至琉球群島，南至鯊魚灣與澳洲大堡礁的南方與奧斯垂群島的拉帕島。台灣發現於南部、澎湖、小琉球、綠島及蘭嶼等。

主要捕獲的漁法是延繩釣、一支釣、流刺網及籠具等，而本種魚亦是潛水鏢魚的對象以及水族館展示魚種。

體延長而略側扁。頭部輪廓呈平滑的弧型。後鼻孔並不明顯的大於前鼻孔。齒板之外表面平滑，上齒板幾被上唇所覆蓋；齒板無犬齒；每一上咽骨具1列臼齒狀之咽頭齒。背鰭前中線鱗約5-7；頰鱗3列，上列為5鱗；中列為6鱗；下列為1-4鱗。胸鰭具14軟條；雌魚尾鰭為截形，雄魚則為雙凹形。稚魚(大約 8 公分以內)體呈黑褐色，體側有白色斑點。初期階段(IP, Initial phase)的雌魚體色為黑褐色；腹部為鮮紅褐色；鰓蓋具2或3條白色條紋；單鰭均為黃褐色，基部為鮮紅色；胸鰭鰭膜上端為淡黃色，基部為紅褐色；腹鰭為紅褐色。終期階段(TP, Terminal phase)的雄魚體色為藍綠色，鱗片具橙紅色緣；體前背側和頭背側具許多小點為短斑紋；頭部自吻端至鰓蓋具一條綠緣的粉紅色縱帶，縱帶下方之頭部(含上下唇)一致偏淡色；背鰭第IV棘基底具一小黑點；背、臀鰭綠色，鰭膜中央具一寬的粉紅色縱紋；尾鰭綠色，上下葉或具粉紅色縱紋。

主要棲息於礁石區外圍水域。 成群產卵或成對。以啃食水底的藻類為生。

Scarus globiceps, commonly known as the globehead, violet-lined, speckled or roundhead parrotfish, is a marine fish native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where it lives in coral reefs.

French naturalist Achille Valenciennes described the globehead parrotfish in 1840. The species was the first parrotfish collected by Charles Darwin—from the waters around Tahiti and then from the Cocos Islands; the former was described as a new species and given the name Scarus lepidus by Leonard Jenyns, while the latter was confirmed as the current species. In 1900, Henry Weed Fowler described a specimen from Caroline Island as Scarus pronus, which was later synonymised with this species.

The globehead parrotfish can grow up to 45 cm (18 in) long and weigh up to 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). The adult male in terminal phase has a predominantly green body with its scales bordered with salmon pink. The tail fin is green with salmon-pink bands. It has a horizontal pink band bordered with green running from the snout through its eyes to the end of the opercle. It has 1 or 2 canine teeth on the upper and lower plates. Initial phase globehead parrotfish are grey-brown, their abdomens bearing three white bands.

The range is from the Society and Line Islands in the Pacific west to the Ryukyu Islands in the north, the Great Barrier Reef in the south, and across the Indian Ocean to east Africa. It is found more commonly on outer reefs but can also inhabit lagoons, generally to a depth of around 12 metres (39 ft) and occasionally down to 30 metres (98 ft).

Scarus globiceps is harvested for food in Guam.

More common in outer reef habitats than protected waters. Spawns in groups or in pairs. Caught mainly with traps, nets and other types of artisanal gear.