Bluebridle Parrotfish (species: Scarus dimidiatus) in Lizard Island area: all known taxa (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Lizard Island area: all known taxa > Animalia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Actinopterygii > Perciformes > Scaridae > Scarus > Scarus dimidiatus (gallery)
Scarus dimidiatus
Bluebridle Parrotfish


©Renato Morais: Terminal phase Scarus dimidiatus at Horseshoe Reef, Lizard Island.

©Paul Asman: Terminal phase Scarus dimidiatus at Lizard Island. Note pair of oblique bands between eye and pectoral fin, purple above yellow/green.

©Anne Hoggett: Initial phase Scarus dimidiatus at lagoon bommie, Lizard Island.

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Scaridae
Genus Scarus
Species Scarus dimidiatus

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Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

Colours

                        

Distinguishing features

Initial phase individuals are yellow with a grey head and three grey saddles on back. Terminal phase individuals are dark purple/blue at rear, front part of body is abruptly paler green/blue with a purple patch forward of the eye to the snout. Two oblique bands exend from the eye to the pectoral fin, a purple one above a yellow one. (Adapted from Allen et al, 2003).

Size

  • Up to 22 cm (Length of initial phase (Allen et al, 2003))
  • Up to 30 cm (Length of terminal phase (Allen et al, 2003))

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • Allen, G., R. Steene, P. Humann and N. Deloach (2003). Reef fish identification: Tropical Pacific New World Publications Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA.
  • Bellwood, D.R. and J.H. Choat (1989). A description of the juvenile phase colour patterns of 24 parrotfish species (Family Scaridae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Records of the Australian Museum, 41: 1-41. LIRS catalog number 264.

Other references

  • Bellwood, D.R. (1985). The functional morphology, systematics and behavioural ecology of parrotfishes (Family Scaridae), Ph.D. thesis, James Cook University, Townsville. LIRS catalog number 310.
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