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Minifin Parrotfish
Scarus altipinnis (Steindachner, 1879)
A Minifin Parrotfish at a depth of 12m, Osprey Reef, Coral Sea, December 2000. View larger image. View this species on the 'Do Fishes Sleep?' FAQ page.
Above and below: A 52cm long Minifin Parrotfish speared by B. Ryan, at a depth of 1.5m, Korogoro Point, Hat Head, New South Wales, January 2004. Note the 'split level' dorsal fin, with the lower soft rayed portion of the fin to the right. View larger image.
The Minifin Parrotfish can be recognised by its colouration and dorsal fin shape. The spinous dorsal fin and first soft ray are elevated above the remainder of the fin. The caudal fin is rounded with extended lobes in adults. The dental plates are exposed and blue to dark green in both initial and terminal phase individuals (more information).
Colouration changes with growth. Juveniles have a yellow head and a striped to mottled body. Initial phase fish are brown with white spots. Terminal phase fish become green posteriorly. They have two blue-green bars on the chin and spots and lines around the eye and on the operculum (glossary).
This species grows to 60cm in length.
It occurs in tropical and some warm temperate marine waters of the Western and Central Pacific.
In Australia it is known from the northern Great Barrier Reef south to the central coast of New South Wales.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Choat, J.H. & J.E. Randall. 1986. A Review of the Parrotfishes (Family Scaridae) of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia with Description of a New Species. Records of the Australian Museum. 38: 175-228.
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
