Green humphead parrotfish
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| Bolbometopon muricatum (Valenciennes, 1840) |
The green humphead parrotfish, Bolbometopon muricatum, is a species of parrotfish, the only member of the genus Bolbometopon, found on reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Red Sea in the west to Samoa in the east, and from the Yaeyama Islands in the north to the Great Barrier Reef in the south. Other common names include bumphead parrotfish, humphead parrotfish, double-headed parrotfish, and giant parrotfish. It is the largest and wariest of the parrotfishes.
Unlike the wrasse, it has a vertical head profile, and unlike other parrotfishes, it is uniformly covered with scales except for the leading edge of the head which is often light green to pink.
Primary phase colouration is a dull grey with scattered white spots, gradually becoming uniformly dark green.
Juvenile green humphead parrotfish are found in lagoons, adults in clear outer lagoon and seaward reefs up to depths of at least 30 m. They are usually found in small groups, and they feed on benthic algae and live corals. They may ram their head against corals to facilitate feeding. They sleep in caves and shipwrecks at night.
[edit] References
- Bolbometopon muricatum (TSN 170884). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 11 March 2006.
- "Bolbometopon muricatum". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
