King Parrotfish

Males recognized by the yellow pectoral fins, horizontal green band from tip of snout to above pectoral fin base and large individuals with oval yellow patch on caudal peduncle. Females plain yellowish grey with pale lines along abdominal area (Ref. 48636). Scales large. Median predorsal scales 4; 3 scale rows on cheek, ventral row with 1-2 scales. Truncate caudal fin in initial phase (slightly rounded); slightly lunate in terminal phase. Dental plates nearly covered by lips. Terminal males with 1 or 2 upward-projecting canines posteriorly on lower dental plate and 1 on upper plate. Large initial phase individuals are tan while terminal phase individuals have a distinctive transparent yellowish-tan pectoral fin (Ref. 1602).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154). Feeds by scraping algae from the substrate (Ref. 26993).

Inhabits lagoon and channel reefs, usually deeper 20 m (Ref. 9710). Minimum depth of 2 m reported from Ref. 2689.

aquarium: commercial

Scarus flavipectoralis Schultz

Scarus frenatus [not Lacepède] Bleeker, 1852, p. 770.

Pseudoscarus frenatus [not Lacepède].—Bleeker, 1862, p. 40, pl. 16: fig. 2.

Scarus flavipectoralis Schultz, 1958, p. 52, pl. 9D.

Callyodon flavipectoralis.—Munro, 1967, p. 438, fig. 834 [New Guinea].

Characterized by having 4 median predorsal scales, 3 rows of scales on cheek with 1 scale in ventral row, ii,12 pectoral fin rays; and lips not quite covering the white teeth, canines present at corner of mouth; dorsal edge of pectoral fin base with black spot. Anterior half of body dark (brownish green when alive), posterior half of body pale (light green when alive); middle of caudal peduncle yellow; pectoral fin yellow with a blue base; caudal fin orange with blue outer edges; anal fin blue with a dark red band basally; dorsal fin with blue distal edge, then submarginally an orange streak, middle of fin green; green streak from snout past lower edge of eye.

RANGE.—Western Pacific Ocean.

Scarus flavipectoralis, the yellow-fin parrotfish, also known as the king parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish in the family Scaridae. It is found in the western Central Pacific from the Philippines east to the Solomon Islands, north to the Marshall Islands and south to Scott Reef and the Great Barrier Reef, it has also been recorded from Tonga.