Zelinda's parrotfish

📖 Overview

Zelinda's parrotfish (Scarus zelindae), first described by Moura, Figueiredo & Sazima, 2001 is a medium-sized fish in the family Labridae (order Perciformes). Adults typically reach 33.20 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. It occurs in Tropical waters. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Data Deficient.The species is kept in the aquarium hobby. Care requirements and behaviour align broadly with other Labridae kept in the hobby.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 25. Predorsal scales 7. Uppermost cheek row with 6 scales. Dark anal fin with white margin. Dark lateral band of IP individuals with 4 white blotches. Terminal phase individuals with an orange stripe on dorsal and anal fins but without the yellow area adjacent to the pectoral fin. Branchiostegal rays 15. Inferior mouth, gape slightly oblique .: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Zelinda's parrotfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Scarus Zelinade is primarily a herbivore. They ingest algae and detritus but have a preference for turf algae while juveniles feed on fire corals. Although polyps can make up as much as half of their diet, none of them are purely corallivores. The digestive system of these parrotfish contains additional teeth within their throats that break down coral fragments into the renowned white sands of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. This process, known as bioerosion, reduces the number of algae while generating fresh surfaces for developing corals to cling to and grow on. Research on parrotfish has shown that they occasionally eat other tiny species, including bacteria, detritus, and invertebrates (sessile and benthic species, as well as zooplankton).

🥚 Reproduction

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated. Tropical Southwest Atlantic: endemic to Brazil.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

🦠 Common Diseases

The following diseases are known to affect Zelinda's parrotfish.

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

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