Colours
Distinguishing features
A large fish with a blue-green body and a paler patch on the throat region, and purple edging to the scales. The initial phase is similar, with colours muted. Large individuals have a prominent bump on the top of the head and trailing filaments on the tail. Occasional IP specimens have a bright orange colouration, but this is not seen in terminal male fish. The juvenile is dark brown with a series of horizontal white stripes, similar to C. spilurus.
Size
- Up to 80 cm (Standard length)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
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Animalia:
species: Chlorurus gibbus
is a valid species restricted to the Red Sea; Chlorurus microrhinos was known by that name on the GBR in the past (Kendall Clements, Jun 2021).
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Mainly shallow flats and fronts of exposed reef habitats, and lagoonal and backreef patch reefs.
Found in most locations around the Island.
Behaviour
The Steephead Parrotfish, along with others from the genus Chlorurus, have exposed teeth in powerful jaws, and they use an excavating mode of feeding. They take benthic turf algae from dead coral surfaces and excavate the reef matrix as they feed, hence they are considered important agents of bioerosion. Spawning takes place in the summer months at reef passes and points with good water flow. This species reaches at least 15 years of age.
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- 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.
- 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.
- View all references