Blue parrotfish

They are uniformly blue with a yellow spot on their heads that fades as they age. They average {{convert|30|to|75|cm}} in length with a maximum length of {{convert|1.2|m}}. They develop a large "beak" like other parrotfish that is used for scraping algae and small organisms from rocks. They have pharyngeal teeth that grind ingested rocks into sand. No other species has this uniform blue color as adults. They weigh about {{convert|9.1|kg}}.

In summer, blue parrotfish gather in spawning groups. Sexual interaction occurs and the females deposit their eggs into the water column after which they sink to the seabed. The eggs hatch after about twenty-five hours.{{cite web |url=http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=601 |title=Blue Parrotfishes, Scarus coeruleus |publisher=MarineBio Conservation Organisation |access-date=27 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314084448/http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=601 |archive-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} Some special characteristics found in only female blue parrotfish are that there is an existence of an annual immature all-female group. The other is that females in the sexually mixed group spawn without any seasonality.{{cite journal |last1=Ebisawa |first1=Akihiko |last2=Kanashiro |first2=Kiyoaki |last3=Ohta |first3=Itaru |last4=Uehara |first4=Masato |last5=Nakamura |first5=Hiroyuki |title=Changes of group construction accompanying with growth and maturity in blue-barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban), and influences of the fishing targeting the immature group to the stock |journal=Regional Studies in Marine Science |date=September 2016 |volume=7 |pages=32–42 |doi=10.1016/j.rsma.2016.01.012 |bibcode=2016RSMS....7...32E }}

Blue parrotfish are found on coral reefs at depths of {{convert|3|–|25|m|ft|abbr=on}} in the western Atlantic from Maryland in the United States to Bermuda, the Bahamas, and south to Brazil. They are also found throughout the West Indies but are absent from the northern part of the Gulf of Mexico. Juveniles are found in beds of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum). The Scarus Coeruleus fish greatly depend on coral reef systems to provide them with various food sources; however, this ecosystem has become threatened, which has now put the blue parrotfish and many other species endangered of becoming extinct from lack of food availability.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.

Their diet consists of small organisms found in the algae that they scrape off rocks. They are described as professional sand-suckers, due to their foraging of food amongst the sandy areas that surround the reef.{{cite journal |last1=Overholtzer |first1=Karen L. |last2=Motta |first2=Philip J. |title=Comparative resource use by juvenile parrotfishes in the Florida Keys |journal=Marine Ecology Progress Series |date=11 February 1999 |volume=177 |pages=177–187 |doi=10.3354/meps177177 |bibcode=1999MEPS..177..177O |doi-access=free }} They spend 80 percent of their time searching for food.

The blue parrotfish has a wide range and is abundant in much of that range, some of which are in marine conservation areas. Although larger individuals are targeted by fishermen, the population of this fish seems to be stable overall. For these reasons, the IUCN has listed this fish as being of "Least Concern".

The study{{Cite journal |last1=Visram |first1=Shakil |last2=Yang |first2=Ming-Che |last3=Pillay |first3=Ruby Moothien |last4=Said |first4=Sadri |last5=Henriksson |first5=Oskar |last6=Grahn |first6=Mats |last7=Chen |first7=Chaolun Allen |date=1 July 2010 |title=Genetic connectivity and historical demography of the blue barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) in the western Indian Ocean |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-010-1422-8 |journal=Marine Biology |language=en |volume=157 |issue=7 |pages=1475–1487 |doi=10.1007/s00227-010-1422-8 |bibcode=2010MarBi.157.1475V |issn=1432-1793|url-access=subscription }} on the blue-barred parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) conducted in Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, and the Seychelles in the Western Indian Ocean revealed a significant amount of genetic diversity within populations. Across different geographical regions, noticeable variations in genetic makeup were observed. Although environmental and geographic factors may have contributed to some degree of genetic structuring, the analysis showed a strong presence of gene flow and recent movement among previously isolated lineages. This highlights the dynamic nature of these populations and the exchange of genetic material among them, providing valuable insights into their genetics, evolution, and conservation.

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal|last1=Lindholm|first1=James|last2=Knight|first2=Ashley|last3=Kaufman|first3=Les|last4=Miller|first4=Steven|title=Site fidelity and movement of the parrotfishes Scarus coeruleus and Scarus taeniopterus at Conch Reef (northern Florida Keys)|journal=Caribbean Journal of Science|date=2006|volume=42|issue=1|pages=138–144}}

{{commonscat|Scarus coeruleus}}

• {{sealifephotos|159300}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2308211}}

blue parrotfish

Category:Fish of the Caribbean

Category:Fish of the Dominican Republic

Category:Fish of the Eastern United States

Category:Fauna of Bermuda

Category:Fauna of the Southeastern United States

blue parrotfish