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Yellowfin Parrotfish
Scarus flavipectoralis Schultz, 1958
An initial phase Yellowfin Parrotfish at a depth of 12m, Ribbon Reef #10, Great Barrier Reef off Lizard Island, Queensland, December 2001. View larger image.
A male Yellowfin Parrotfish at a depth of 14m, Wheeler Reef, Great Barrier Reef off Townsville, Queensland, November 2001. View larger image.
The initial phase Yellowfin Parrotfish is grey to brown with a paler abdomen that has faint white stripes. It has a yellow pectoral fin with a black spot at the base.
Mature males (terminal phase fish) are blue to lavender anteriorly changing abruptly to greenish posteriorly. There is blue-green stripe from the snout to the pectoral fin base.
This species grows to 30cm in length.
It occurs on coral reefs of the Western Pacific.
In Australia it is recorded from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and from most of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
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.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
