Table of Contents
Overview
Comprehensive Description
Biology
Found in clear coastal and inner reefs (Ref. 48636); in lagoons and channel reefs (Ref. 2334). Feed mainly on algae (Ref. 26993). Females usually in small groups and maybe mixed with other species when feeding; males solitary nearby (Ref. 48636).
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Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene 1990 Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p. (Ref. 2334)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2334&speccode=13770
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Distribution
Western Central Pacific: Moluccas north to the Marshall Islands, south to Rowley Shoals (?), the Great Barrier Reef, and Vanuatu.
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Randall, J.E. and J.H. Choat 1980 Two new parrotfishes of the genus Scarus from the Central and South Pacific, with further examples of sexual dichromatism. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 70:383-419. (Ref. 2689)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2689&speccode=4968
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Range Description
This species is found from western Indonesia, to the Philippines, extending eastwards to Vanuatu, including the Great Barrier Reef. It is absent from Christmas and Cocos-Keeling. It was recorded from Aceh, Indonesia (S. Pardede pers comm. 2009). It was recorded from Vietnam (Dung 2007, R.F. Myers pers comm. 2010).
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Physical Description
Morphology
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9
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Randall, J.E. and J.H. Choat 1980 Two new parrotfishes of the genus Scarus from the Central and South Pacific, with further examples of sexual dichromatism. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 70:383-419. (Ref. 2689)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2689&speccode=4968
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Size
Max. size
49.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710))
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Lieske, E. and R. Myers 1994 Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p. (Ref. 9710)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9710&speccode=13770
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Diagnostic Description
Scales large. 4 medial predorsal scales; 2 scale rows on cheek. Caudal fin truncate in both phases. Lips do not cover dental plates. Adults with 1-2 canines posteriorly on side of upper dental plate. The initial phase is reddish-brown with a diffuse yellowish patch in the center of the caudal peduncle and markings on the lips similar to those of the terminal male (Ref. 1602). Males identified by white patch on cheek and females strongly barred (Ref. 48636).
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Randall, J.E. and J.H. Choat 1980 Two new parrotfishes of the genus Scarus from the Central and South Pacific, with further examples of sexual dichromatism. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 70:383-419. (Ref. 2689)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=2689&speccode=4968
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Ecology
Habitat
Habitat and Ecology
Habitat and Ecology
Systems
This species is a moderately sized non-schooling species, characteristic of outer reef flats and slopes. It tends to inhabit sheltered to moderately exposed reef environments but rare on exposed ocean reef fronts. It is not recorded from exposed reefs in the Coral Sea. Large terminal phase males are usually between 30-40 cm (TL).
Generation length justification: 14(longevity) -2(age of maturity) = 7/2 = 3.5 or 4 years
Generation length justification: 14(longevity) -2(age of maturity) = 7/2 = 3.5 or 4 years
Systems
- Marine
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Depth range based on 4 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 2 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 3 - 20
Temperature range (°C): 28.642 - 28.988
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.292 - 0.376
Salinity (PPS): 34.003 - 34.646
Oxygen (ml/l): 4.454 - 4.577
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.057 - 0.199
Silicate (umol/l): 1.340 - 1.376
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 3 - 20
Temperature range (°C): 28.642 - 28.988
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.292 - 0.376
Salinity (PPS): 34.003 - 34.646
Oxygen (ml/l): 4.454 - 4.577
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.057 - 0.199
Silicate (umol/l): 1.340 - 1.376
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 2 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 3 - 20
Temperature range (°C): 28.642 - 28.988
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.292 - 0.376
Salinity (PPS): 34.003 - 34.646
Oxygen (ml/l): 4.454 - 4.577
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.057 - 0.199
Silicate (umol/l): 1.340 - 1.376
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 3 - 20
Temperature range (°C): 28.642 - 28.988
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.292 - 0.376
Salinity (PPS): 34.003 - 34.646
Oxygen (ml/l): 4.454 - 4.577
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.057 - 0.199
Silicate (umol/l): 1.340 - 1.376
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Trophic Strategy
Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154). Feeds by scraping algae from the substrate (Ref. 26993).
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Bellwood, D.R. and J.H. Choat 1990 A functional analysis of grazing in parrotfishes (family Scaridae): the ecological implications. Environ. Biol. Fish. 28:189-214. (Ref. 26993)
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=26993&speccode=4976
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Chlorurus bleekeri
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1
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Conservation
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
LC
Least Concern
Red List Criteria
Version
3.1
Year Assessed
2010
Assessor/s
Choat, J.H., Carpenter, K.E., Clements, K.D., Rocha, L.A., Myers, R., Russell, B., Lazuardi, M.E., Muljadi, A., Pardede, S. & Rahardjo, P.
Reviewer/s
McIlwain, J. & Craig, M.T.
Contributor/s
Justification
This species is heavily fished in about 70% of its range with significant population reductions recorded from some locations, such as in the central Philippines. However, it is a widespread species and is still common and not heavily fished at some sites over the eastern parts of its range and in Australia. It occurs in a number of remote areas and in marine reserves. Although there are numerous marine reserves in the Coral Triangle Region at the present time, most reserves are not very well managed. However, in well-managed reserves parrotfishes tend to recover comparatively quickly and therefore increased management in protected areas and potentially fishery protection might offset the overexploitation of this species. It is therefore listed as Least Concern. However, we recommend further monitoring of harvest levels and species catch data.
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Trends
Population
Population
Population Trend
This species is not abundant over most of its range. It achieves greatest abundance in the central Philippines with 2-4 individuals per 500 m2 (Stockwell et al. 2009). It is considered to be the most abundant parrotfish in the Solomon Islands (Green et al. 2006). In the Solomons, it makes up approximately 10% of the catch. Since 2005, the percentage represented in the catch is increasing. The percentage of the smaller parrotfish is also increasing (Sabetian 2009).
In Karimunjawa National Park, Java Sea, underwater visual census (UVC) show that this species has displayed a 10-fold decrease in numbers from 2005-2006. In 2007, there was a 2-fold increase in Karimunjawa and Aceh (S. Pardede pers comm. 2009). It is common in Raja Ampat (Allen 2003).
In Karimunjawa National Park, Java Sea, underwater visual census (UVC) show that this species has displayed a 10-fold decrease in numbers from 2005-2006. In 2007, there was a 2-fold increase in Karimunjawa and Aceh (S. Pardede pers comm. 2009). It is common in Raja Ampat (Allen 2003).
Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats
Least Concern (LC)
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IUCN 2006 2006 IUCN red list of threatened species. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded July 2006.
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=57073
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Major Threats
Overfishing, destructive fishing practices and habitat degradation are the the major threats to this species in the Coral Triangle Region. In the Philippines, local fishing can reduce numbers of parrotfishes by 50-60% over a period of approximately 20-30 years (Stockwell et al. 2009).
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Management
Conservation Actions
Conservation Actions
There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for this species. However, its distribution overlaps several marine protected areas within its range.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems
Benefits
Importance
fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family
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Burgess, W.E., H.R. Axelrod and R.E. Hunziker III 1990 Dr. Burgess's atlas of marine aquarium fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey. 768 p.
http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9210
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