Scarus ferrugineus Forsskål, 1775

Species Nomenclature

Scarus ferrugineus Forsskål, 1775, commonly called the rusty parrotfish, reaches a maximum length of 41 cm (16 in).

Color Pattern Overview

This species has two distinct color patterns across its different life phases.

Terminal Phase Coloration

The terminal phase is multicoloured, bright, and predominantly blue-green.

Initial Phase Coloration (Common Name Origin)

The initial phase, in which individual fish are most frequently observed in groups, is brownish, which gives the species its common name. This initial phase also has light and dark bands, along with a yellow tail.

Habitat and Depth Range

This reef-associated species lives on coral reefs at depths ranging from 1 to 60 meters.

Geographic Distribution

It is found in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Persian Gulf, along the coasts of Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Yemen, Jordan, Iran, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Sudan, and also off the island of Socotra. It is generally a common species in its range.

Fishery Interaction

Within its native range, the rusty parrotfish is caught as a target species by artisanal fisheries.