The princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish, in the familyScaridae.[2] It is typically 20 to 25 centimetres (7.9 to 9.8 in) long, found in the Caribbean, South Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda.[3] Its behavior, similar to other parrotfishes, is to swim about the reef and sandy patches during the day, at depths between 3 and 25 metres (9.8 and 82.0 ft), scraping algae on which it feeds.
Parrotfishes are most known for their beak jaws that are fused together with their teeth. Their distinct teeth allow them to crush and grind food.[4] The pharyngeal jaw is the second set of teeth located in the throat.[5] The color of the princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus) depends on their gender. Males have a blue body with yellow shading across whereas females are white with shades of orange and brown. Scarus taeniopterus have cycloid scales that are smooth edged.[5]
Distribution and roles in ecologyEdit
The family Scaridae are important in the ecosystem, supporting commercial fisheries and playing a significant role in the food chain of the coral reef.[6] The fish scrape surfaces and excavate calcareous structures to acquire the nutrition they need.[7] They are known for exerting top-down control on algae and when overfishing of parrotfish occurs in particular habitats, increases in the biomass of algae can be seen.[8] When overfishing is not a concern, the parrotfish are able to graze and maintain coral reefs.[8] Populations of the family Scaridae can be found along the Northern Great Barrier Reef, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. They prefer to graze shallow seas where coral grows under light. They prefer coral reefs but can also be found amongst seagrasses.[9] The abundance of the species decreases with decreasing latitude.[8] In regions where there are greater masses of predators, there is a positive correlation with the diversity of parrotfish. The increasing number of disturbances throughout the past years including coral bleaching events have influenced parrot fish assemblages.[10] Recent research suggests that parrotfish abundance is enhanced by such disturbances because they create bare substratum where successional microbial communities can establish.[10] It is therefore important to maintain monitoring of coral reef habitats.
DietEdit
The diet of Scarus taeniopterus consists of algae, as well as coral polyps,[11] and they are known primarily to be herbivores.[5] By consuming epilithic algae, the fish are able to open space for young coral settlement and growth. They play a significant role in bringing coral reefs to recovery from major disturbances.[12] Their distinct teeth which are fused together with their beak jaws allow them to crush and grind food.[7] Climate change has increasingly started to alter the availability of food for adult populations of Scaridae, primarily in the Caribbean region.[13] Climate change alters ocean currents which can potentially result in the reduction of food.[14]
Reproduction & life cycleEdit
Scarus taeniopterus spawn year-round, under low sunlight. Peak spawning tends to be during the summer season.[15] Evidence of parental behavior does not exist.[15] Parrotfish eggs are dispersed by tidal currents and tend to hatch a day after being fertilized. They develop quickly and can reach maturity in a few years.[5] The maximum lifespan of parrotfish is 20 years however most live 5 years or less.[5] The family Scaridae are known for their complex reproductive systems. Males can be either born male or can be females that have gone through sex change based on the reproductive circumstance they are facing and whether or not it is an advantage to be one sex or the other.[15]
Male Scarus TaeniopterusFemale Scarus Taeniopterus
PredatorsEdit
The primary predators of the Scaridae family are humans (due to overfishing) and sharks.[5] Parrotfish seek protection by hiding out in caves within the reef.[5]
ReferencesEdit
^Rocha, L.A.; Choat, J.H.; Clements, K.D.; Russell, B.; Myers, R.; Lazuardi, M.E.; Muljadi, A.; Pardede, S.; Rahardjo, P. (2012). "Scarus taeniopterus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T190750A17784981. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190750A17784981.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Scarus taeniopterus" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
^Humann, DeLoach (2002). Reef Fish Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. ISBN1-878348-30-2.
^Lindholm J, Knight A, Kaufman L et al. (2006). "Site Fidelity and Movement of the Parrotfishes Scarus coeruleus and Scarus taeniopterus at Conch reef (northern Florida Keys)". Caribbean Journal of Science 42(1) 138-144.
^ abcdefgBellwood, David R.; Choat, J. Howard (1990), Bruton, Michael N. (ed.), "A functional analysis of grazing in parrotfishes (Family Scaridae): The ecological implications", Alternative life-history styles of fishes, Developments in environmental biology of fishes, Springer Netherlands, vol. 10, pp. 189–214, doi:10.1007/978-94-009-2065-1_11, ISBN978-94-009-2065-1
^Bonaldo Roberta, Bonaldo H, Bellwood D, Andrew D (2014). "The Ecosystem Roles of Parrotfishes on Tropical Reefs". Oceanography and Marine Biology 52: 81-132.
^ abMiller BM, Kramer DL et al., (2011). "Locomotor compensation in the sea: body size affects escape gait in parrotfish". Animal Behavior 82(5) 1109-1116.
^ abcMcIlwain JL, Taylor BM (2009). Parrotfish population dynamics from the Marianas Islands.
^Vallès, Henri; Oxenford, Hazel A. (20 January 2014). "Parrotfish Size: A Simple yet Useful Alternative Indicator of Fishing Effects on Caribbean Reefs?". PLOS ONE. 9 (1): e86291. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...986291V. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086291. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC3896469. PMID 24466009.
^ abJohnson G, Taylor B, Robbins W, Franklin E, Toonen R, Bowen B, & Choat J (2019). "Diversity and Structure of Parrotfish Assemblages across the Northern Great Barrier Reef". Diversity, 11(1) 14.
^Nanami A (2016). "Parrotfish grazing ability: interspecific differences in relation to jaw-lever mechanics and relative weight of adductor mandibulae on an Okinawan coral reef". PeerJ.
^Barlow GW (1975). "On the sociobiology of four Puerto Rican parrotfishes (Scaridae)" Marine Biology 33, 281–293.
^US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "How does climate change affect coral reefs?". oceanservice.noaa.gov. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
^ abcThresher R (1984). Reproduction in Reef Fishes. Neptune City, NJ. TFH Publications.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Scarus taeniopterus.
Wikispecies has information related to Scarus taeniopterus.
Photos of Princess parrotfish on Sealife Collection
Photos of Princess parrotfish on Reef Guide
October 20, 2023
princess, parrotfish, princess, parrotfish, scarus, taeniopterus, species, marine, finned, fish, parrotfish, family, scaridae, typically, centimetres, long, found, caribbean, south, florida, bahamas, bermuda, behavior, similar, other, parrotfishes, swim, about. The princess parrotfish Scarus taeniopterus is a species of marine ray finned fish a parrotfish in the family Scaridae 2 It is typically 20 to 25 centimetres 7 9 to 9 8 in long found in the Caribbean South Florida the Bahamas and Bermuda 3 Its behavior similar to other parrotfishes is to swim about the reef and sandy patches during the day at depths between 3 and 25 metres 9 8 and 82 0 ft scraping algae on which it feeds Princess parrotfishConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder LabriformesFamily ScaridaeGenus ScarusSpecies S taeniopterusBinomial nameScarus taeniopterusLesson 1829 Contents 1 Characteristics 2 Distribution and roles in ecology 3 Diet 4 Reproduction amp life cycle 5 Predators 6 References 7 External linksCharacteristics EditParrotfishes are most known for their beak jaws that are fused together with their teeth Their distinct teeth allow them to crush and grind food 4 The pharyngeal jaw is the second set of teeth located in the throat 5 The color of the princess parrotfish Scarus taeniopterus depends on their gender Males have a blue body with yellow shading across whereas females are white with shades of orange and brown Scarus taeniopterus have cycloid scales that are smooth edged 5 Distribution and roles in ecology EditThe family Scaridae are important in the ecosystem supporting commercial fisheries and playing a significant role in the food chain of the coral reef 6 The fish scrape surfaces and excavate calcareous structures to acquire the nutrition they need 7 They are known for exerting top down control on algae and when overfishing of parrotfish occurs in particular habitats increases in the biomass of algae can be seen 8 When overfishing is not a concern the parrotfish are able to graze and maintain coral reefs 8 Populations of the family Scaridae can be found along the Northern Great Barrier Reef the Bahamas and the Caribbean They prefer to graze shallow seas where coral grows under light They prefer coral reefs but can also be found amongst seagrasses 9 The abundance of the species decreases with decreasing latitude 8 In regions where there are greater masses of predators there is a positive correlation with the diversity of parrotfish The increasing number of disturbances throughout the past years including coral bleaching events have influenced parrot fish assemblages 10 Recent research suggests that parrotfish abundance is enhanced by such disturbances because they create bare substratum where successional microbial communities can establish 10 It is therefore important to maintain monitoring of coral reef habitats Diet EditThe diet of Scarus taeniopterus consists of algae as well as coral polyps 11 and they are known primarily to be herbivores 5 By consuming epilithic algae the fish are able to open space for young coral settlement and growth They play a significant role in bringing coral reefs to recovery from major disturbances 12 Their distinct teeth which are fused together with their beak jaws allow them to crush and grind food 7 Climate change has increasingly started to alter the availability of food for adult populations of Scaridae primarily in the Caribbean region 13 Climate change alters ocean currents which can potentially result in the reduction of food 14 Reproduction amp life cycle EditScarus taeniopterus spawn year round under low sunlight Peak spawning tends to be during the summer season 15 Evidence of parental behavior does not exist 15 Parrotfish eggs are dispersed by tidal currents and tend to hatch a day after being fertilized They develop quickly and can reach maturity in a few years 5 The maximum lifespan of parrotfish is 20 years however most live 5 years or less 5 The family Scaridae are known for their complex reproductive systems Males can be either born male or can be females that have gone through sex change based on the reproductive circumstance they are facing and whether or not it is an advantage to be one sex or the other 15 nbsp Male Scarus Taeniopterus nbsp Female Scarus TaeniopterusPredators EditThe primary predators of the Scaridae family are humans due to overfishing and sharks 5 Parrotfish seek protection by hiding out in caves within the reef 5 References Edit Rocha L A Choat J H Clements K D Russell B Myers R Lazuardi M E Muljadi A Pardede S Rahardjo P 2012 Scarus taeniopterus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012 e T190750A17784981 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2012 RLTS T190750A17784981 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2019 Scarus taeniopterus in FishBase December 2019 version Humann DeLoach 2002 Reef Fish Identification Florida Caribbean Bahamas New World Publications Inc ISBN 1 878348 30 2 Lindholm J Knight A Kaufman L et al 2006 Site Fidelity and Movement of the Parrotfishes Scarus coeruleus and Scarus taeniopterus at Conch reef northern Florida Keys Caribbean Journal of Science 42 1 138 144 a b c d e f g Bellwood David R Choat J Howard 1990 Bruton Michael N ed A functional analysis of grazing in parrotfishes Family Scaridae The ecological implications Alternative life history styles of fishes Developments in environmental biology of fishes Springer Netherlands vol 10 pp 189 214 doi 10 1007 978 94 009 2065 1 11 ISBN 978 94 009 2065 1 Bonaldo Roberta Bonaldo H Bellwood D Andrew D 2014 The Ecosystem Roles of Parrotfishes on Tropical Reefs Oceanography and Marine Biology 52 81 132 a b Miller BM Kramer DL et al 2011 Locomotor compensation in the sea body size affects escape gait in parrotfish Animal Behavior 82 5 1109 1116 a b c McIlwain JL Taylor BM 2009 Parrotfish population dynamics from the Marianas Islands Valles Henri Oxenford Hazel A 20 January 2014 Parrotfish Size A Simple yet Useful Alternative Indicator of Fishing Effects on Caribbean Reefs PLOS ONE 9 1 e86291 Bibcode 2014PLoSO 986291V doi 10 1371 journal pone 0086291 ISSN 1932 6203 PMC 3896469 PMID 24466009 a b Johnson G Taylor B Robbins W Franklin E Toonen R Bowen B amp Choat J 2019 Diversity and Structure of Parrotfish Assemblages across the Northern Great Barrier Reef Diversity 11 1 14 https sta uwi edu fst lifesciences sites default files lifesciences documents ogatt Scarus taeniopterus 20 20Princess 20Parrotfish pdf bare URL PDF Nanami A 2016 Parrotfish grazing ability interspecific differences in relation to jaw lever mechanics and relative weight of adductor mandibulae on an Okinawan coral reef PeerJ Barlow GW 1975 On the sociobiology of four Puerto Rican parrotfishes Scaridae Marine Biology 33 281 293 US Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration How does climate change affect coral reefs oceanservice noaa gov Retrieved 11 April 2020 a b c Thresher R 1984 Reproduction in Reef Fishes Neptune City NJ TFH Publications External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Scarus taeniopterus nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Scarus taeniopterus Photos of Princess parrotfish on Sealife Collection Photos of Princess parrotfish on Reef Guide Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Princess parrotfish amp oldid 1178037440, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
