About Scarus forsteni (Bleeker, 1861)
Common Names and Native Range
Scarus forsteni, commonly called the whitespot parrotfish or Forsten's parrotfish, is a marine fish native to tropical regions of the western Pacific Ocean.
Habitat and Diet
It inhabits coral reefs and feeds on benthic algae.
Feeding Classification
This species is classified as a scraper, because it uses its specialized beak-like mouth to scrape algae and other biofilms from surfaces in the ocean.
Jaw Physiology for Feeding
This feeding behavior is enabled by its jaw physiology, which has a shallow shape and a thin cement covering.
