Pacific Longnose Parrotfish, Hipposcarus longiceps (Valenciennes, 1840)
Scientific name: Hipposcarus longiceps
Click to enlarge image
A Pacific Longnose Parrotfish, Hipposcarus longiceps, photographed at night at a depth of 10m, Mantis Reef, Wreck Bay, far northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, November 2001.
Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Hipposcarus
- Species
- longiceps
- Family
- Scaridae
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to 40 cm in length.
Introduction
Mature Pacific Longnose Parrotfish are light blue with orange scale margins. The upper lip is orange and the fins are blue and orange.
Identification
Mature Pacific Longnose Parrotfish are light blue with orange scale margins. The upper lip is orange and the fins are blue and orange.
Distribution
It is found on coral reefs of the Western Pacific.
In Australia it occurs from the coast and offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and from the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
- 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.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
