Scientific Name
Leptoscarus vaigiensis

Common Name
Marbled parrotfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 25. Color when fresh is greenish with pale and dark brown on scales, the latter almost covering entire scales. Head with irregular bands and spots, most distinct band on the chin. Somewhat fleshy lips, covering teeth in both jaws. Fleshy rim of anterior nostril expands dorsoposteriorly to a flap extending to or beyond posterior nostril. Yellow-orange iris with outer green ring. Flexible dorsal spines; deeply incised inter spinous membrane of dorsal fin. On males have caniniform teeth above the upper dental plates.

Classification

Classified By

Quoy & Gaimard, 1824

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Parrotfishes (Scaridae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: northern Red Sea and South Africa to Easter Island, north to southern Japan, south to Poor Knight's Island in New Zealand and Rottnest Island in Australia. Southeast Atlantic: False Bay, South Africa (Ref. 525).

Range

30°N - 35°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated

Trophic Level

2.27 s.e. 0.17 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

35.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)