Scarus forsteni

Scarus forsteni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Division: Teleostei
Order: Labriformes
Family: Labridae
Genus: Scarus
Species:
S. forsteni
Binomial name
Scarus forsteni
(Bleeker, 1861)
Synonyms
  • Pseudoscarus forsteni Bleeker, 1861
  • Callyodon forsteni (Bleeker, 1861)
  • Callyodon laxtoni Whitley, 1948

Scarus forsteni, commonly known as the whitespot parrotfish, or Forsten's parrotfish, is a marine fish native to tropical areas in the western Pacific Ocean, where it lives in coral reefs and feeds on benthic algae. S. forsteni are scrapers, meaning they use their specialized beak-like mouths to scrape algae and other biofilms off ocean surfaces. This is possible due to their jaw physiology, which has a shallow shape and thin cement covering.

References

  1. ↑ Myers, R.; Choat, J.H.; Russell, B.; Clements, K.D.; Rocha, L.A.; Lazuardi, M.E.; Muljadi, A.; Pardede, S.; Rahardjo, P. (2012). "Scarus forsteni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012 e.T190747A66523750. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190747A66523750.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Scarus forsteni". FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. ↑ McGrouther, Mark (15 February 2013). "Whitespot Parrotfish, Scarus forsteni (Bleeker, 1861)". nature culture discover. Australian Museum. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  4. ↑ Bellwood, David R.; Choat, J. Howard (1990-08-01). "A functional analysis of grazing in parrotfishes (family Scaridae): the ecological implications". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 28 (1): 189–214. doi:10.1007/BF00751035. ISSN 1573-5133.