Scarus tricolor Bleeker, 1847

Species Identification

Scarus tricolor is a species of parrotfish.

Initial Phase Coloration

Initial-phase individuals are generally greenish, and typically have pinkish or yellowish tints on the posterior part of the body, with a purplish band located just inside the margin of each lobe of the caudal fin.

Female Base Coloration

Females of this species range in color from dark grey to almost black, shading to blue or bluish-green on the lower flanks.

Female Fin and Scale Markings

They have black edging on their scales, a red tail fin, an orange anal fin, and sooty yellowish to orange pelvic fins.

Terminal Phase Male Distinguishing Features

Terminal phase males are similar in appearance to males of Scarus forsteni; the most noticeable difference is that S. tricolor has a yellow inner pectoral axil.

General Distribution Range

This species is widespread across the Indian Ocean.

Detailed Geographic Extent

Its range extends from East Africa south to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and eastward through Madagascar and other tropical Indian Ocean archipelagoes, across the eastern Indian Ocean, and into the western Pacific Ocean as far east as French Polynesia and Pitcairn.

Range Overlap with Congener

It is largely replaced by S. forsteni in the western Pacific, though the two species have some overlapping range in the Philippines.

Social Grouping

Scarus tricolor is most often found as individual fish, though groups are sometimes recorded, in areas with dense coral growth.

Reef Habitat Types

It typically occurs on seaward reefs, but can also be found within lagoons.

Depth Range and Diet

It occurs at depths down to 30 metres (98 ft) and feeds on benthic algae.

Reproductive Traits

It is an oviparous species that forms distinct pairs for spawning.