Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Scaridae (Parrotfishes) > Sparisomatinae
Etymology: Leptoscarus: Greek, leptos = thin + Latin, scarus = a fish cited by ancient writers; 1601 (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; reef-associated. Tropical; 30°N - 35°S

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5490)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 25. Color when fresh is greenish with pale and dark brown on scales, the latter almost covering entire scales. Head with irregular bands and spots, most distinct band on the chin. Somewhat fleshy lips, covering teeth in both jaws. Fleshy rim of anterior nostril expands dorsoposteriorly to a flap extending to or beyond posterior nostril. Yellow-orange iris with outer green ring. Flexible dorsal spines; deeply incised inter spinous membrane of dorsal fin. On males have caniniform teeth above the upper dental plates.

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions | Faunafri

Indo-Pacific: northern Red Sea and South Africa to Easter Island, north to southern Japan, south to Poor Knight's Island in New Zealand and Rottnest Island in Australia. Southeast Atlantic: False Bay, South Africa (Ref. 525).

Found in sheltered bays, harbors and lagoons (Ref. 48636). Inhabits seagrass areas or areas with hard substrates heavy with algal cover. Usually occur in small groups. Unlike other parrotfishes, males and females look very similar and do not change sex (Ref. 48636). Feeds on seagrasses and algae (Ref. 30573). Marketed fresh (Ref. 5284).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Westneat, Mark | Collaborators

Bruce, R.W. and J.E. Randall, 1985. A revision of the Indo-West Pacific parrotfish genera Calotomus and Leptoscarus (Scaridae: Sparisomatinae). Indo-Pac. Fish. (5):32 p.

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)

Least Concern (LC)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

FAO(Publication : search) | FisheriesWiki | Sea Around Us

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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00985 (-0.08973 - 0.10942), b=2.99 (2.93 - 3.06), based on LWR estimates for species & family-BS (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 2.3 ±0.17 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): High.

Leptoscarus vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)