Chlorurus perspicillatus
{{Short description|Species of ray-finned fishes}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Corl0049 (27497387304).jpg
| image_caption = Male
| image2 = Chlorurus perspicillatus 29806370.jpg
| image2_caption = Female
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| taxon = Chlorurus perspicillatus
| authority = (Steindachner, 1879)
| synonyms = *Scarus perspicillatus Steindachner, 1879
- Scarus ahula Jenkins, 1901
| synonyms_ref = {{Fishbase|Chlorurus|perspicillatus|month=August|year=2019}}
}}
Chlorurus perspicillatus, known officially by the English name, spectacled parrotfish, given by professional ichthyologists and Ichthyology or uhu-uliuli as a well-established Hawaiian name for many hundreds of years, is a species of marine fish in the family Scaridae.{{cite web |url= http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/basch/uhnpscesu/htms/kahofish/fish_pops/scarid/parrot01.htm |title=Chlorurus perspicillatus. uhu uliuli. spectacled parrotfish - Fishes of Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park |work=botany.hawaii.edu |year=2014 |access-date=15 October 2014}} Found only in the Eastern Central Pacific Hawaiian Islands, it inhabits lagoons and seaward reefs{{cite web |url= http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277509 |title=WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Chlorurus perspicillatus (Steindachner, 1879) |work=marinespecies.org |year=2014 |access-date=15 October 2014}}
Young fish are brown with white dots and three white stripes and can reach a maximum size of 24 inches length when fully grown.{{cite web |url= http://www.marinelifephotography.com/fishes/parrotfishes/chlorurus-perspicillatus.htm |title=Spectacled Parrotfish, Chlorurus perspicillatus |first=Keoki |last=Stender |work=marinelifephotography.com |year=2013 |quote=Attains 24 inches. |access-date=15 October 2014}}
It has been known to hybridize with Chlorurus sordidus.
Description
Uhu-uliuli can reach 30 centimeters (1 foot) in length and has a blunt oval-shaped head, square tail, and smooth jaws. The Uhu-uliuli vary in color with males being primarily blue with thin bright pink scale edges that layer the head, while females are dark purple-grey in color with red fins and a white section on the tail where it meets the rest of the body.{{Cite web |title=Spectacled Parrotfish, Chlorurus perspicillatus |url=https://www.marinelifephotography.com/fishes/parrotfishes/chlorurus-perspicillatus.htm |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=www.marinelifephotography.com}} These fish commonly start life as female and transition to male over the span of their lives, which usually brings along a color or pattern change.{{Cite web |date=2012-06-13 |title=Uhu Spectacled Parrotfish, Hawaii - Hawaii Pictures |url=http://www.hawaiipictureoftheday.com/uhu-spectacled-parrotfish-hawaii/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Hawaii Picture of the Day |language=en-US}}
{{Multiple image
| total_width = 600
| image1 = Chlorurus perspicillatus 23969376 (cropped).jpg
| image2 = Chlorurus perspicillatus 23969763 (cropped).jpg
| align = center
| caption1 = Female
| caption2 = Male
}}
Distribution and habitat
The spectacled parrotfish inhabits coral and seaward reefs to depths of 60 meters.https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/wildlife/files/2019/03/SWAP-2015-Parrotfishes-Final.pdf They help maintain the health of coral reefs by their herbivorous diet of algae, keeping it from overgrowing.{{Cite web |last=Fisheries |first=NOAA |date=2021-01-06 |title=A Fish That Shapes The Reef {{!}} NOAA Fisheries |url=https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/science-blog/fish-shapes-reef |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=NOAA |language=en}} Unlike other species of parrotfish, the spectacled parrotfish tend to stay independent or are sometimes found in small groups.{{Cite web |date=2015-09-07 |title=Spectacled Parrotfish (Chlorurus perspicillatus) |url=https://www.karollewall.com/spectacled-parrotfish/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Marine Life et cetera |language=en-US}}
Cultural significance
The Uhu (parrotfish) appears in many Hawaiian stories, one of them being the story of Puniakaia where he catches and takes care of a small Uhu which then grows big and great. He releases it back into the ocean. When Puniakaia is in need of fish he summons his Uhu to bring an abundance of fish for everyone to eat.{{Cite web |last=Resources |first=Hawai‘i DLNR Division of Aquatic |date=2022-05-05 |title=Uhu |url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/2ab544e44800490ea198780abc35a357 |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=ArcGIS StoryMaps |language=en-us}}
Conservation status
The Uhu-uliuli are endemic to Hawaii. They currently face a recreational and commercial overfishing threatwhich has declined their population in the Hawaiian Islands.{{Cite web |date=2015-09-07 |title=Spectacled Parrotfish (Chlorurus perspicillatus) |url=https://www.karollewall.com/spectacled-parrotfish/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Marine Life et cetera |language=en-US}}