Terminal Phase. Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Initial Phase. Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Terminal Phase. Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Genus: Eupercaria, Scaridae (Parrotfish), Scarinae
Scientific Name: Hipposcarus harid
English Name: Candelamoa parrotfish
Creole Name: Kakatwa brino
French Name: Perroquet candelamoa
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 3; Dorsal rays: 25-27; Anal rays: 24-25.
Greyish to greenish brown dorsally, with small pale spots. Whitish ventrally with yellow spots that can coalesce to form a reticulum particularly posteriorly. 3 large
oval white spots along the back and a small one dorsally on caudal peduncle; a broad white streak often on side of body posterior to upper end of gill opening. White
blotches and mid-lateral stripe can disappear with growth. An oblique groove before the eye; large bony scales behind gill opening. Caudal peduncle depressed, slender
and tapering. Yellow bands on dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin, yellow with white bars and stripes pattern and diffuse black margin, double emarginate, lobes longer
with growth.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 60cm TL
Habitat and Ecology:
Reef associated. Inhabits mud and silt sand bottoms (depth 7-350m), usually 7-100m depth on sand, sponge, and weed bottoms. Feeds on benthic animals, including crabs,
molluscs and sea urchins. Juveniles in sheltered coastal bays and estuaries.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in both the fish trap and hand line fisheries and is, along with Sufflamen fraenatum,
the most commonly caught triggerfish in the artisanal fishery.
Notes:
Abalistes stellaris is a synonym for this species.
References:
Bray, D.J. (2018). Abalistes stellatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/759 (30/10/18).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase https://www.fishbase.de/summary/abalistes-stellatus (30/10/18)
Matsuura, K. (2015). Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014. Ichthyol Res (2015)
62:72–113 DOI 10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5
Matsuura, K. & Motomura, H. (2015). Abalistes stellatus. The IUCN Red List 2015: e.T193587A56996805. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/193587/56996805 (18/06/22). .
Matsuura K, Yoshino T (2004). A new triggerfish of the genus Abalistes (Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from the western Pacific. Rec Aust Mus 56:189-194
Smith, M & Heemstra, P Eds. (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. & Mason-Parker, C. (2019). Abalistes stellatus, Starry triggerfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/abalistes-stellatus-anonymous-1798/ (updated 18/06/22).
Description:
Dorsal spines 9, dorsal rays 10. Anal spines 3, anal rays 9.
Medium-sized parrotfish. Head pointed with long face. Cheek scales small, especially anteriorly, forming a nearly isolated sub-triangular patch, the
scales in 3 or 4 rows. Dental plates narrow and covered/nearly covered by lips. Initial phase fish with no canine teeth posteriorly on dental plates;
terminal phase fish with one or two canines on upper dental plate near edge, none on lower. Caudal fin progressively more emarginate with age, caudal
lobes of Terminal phase very long.
Initial phase: pale lilac body, edges of scale paler, shading to whitish ventrally. Caudal fin a darker purple. Dorsal and anal fins pale yellowish with
light blue or blue-green borders. Upper edge of eye blue, iris yellowish with inner rim yellow.
Terminal Phase: body orangish to grey-orange dorsally to orange on the flanks (scales edged in pale orange) and paler ventrally. Edges of lips orange
with a submarginal band of blue, the orange continuing as distinctive bridle across cheek and operculum. Pronounced sickle finned caudal fin with blue
and orange bars.
Size:
Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 75 cm TL (but rarely exceeds 55 cm TL and common length 35 cm TL).
Habitat and Ecology:
Inhabits coastal regions associated with coral reefs and reef flats (depth 1-25 m). Generally found in protected waters, often over sand flats near reefs.
Forms haremic groups of one terminal phase and numerous initial phase fish. Feeds on benthic algae. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery, but is an uncommon component of the catch.
Notes:
References:
Choat, J.H. et al. (2012). Hipposcarus harid. The IUCN Red List 2012: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190733A17779418.en. (19/03/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/7906 (15/08/22).
Lieske, E. & Myers, R. (2002). Coral Reef Fishes. Indo-Pacific and Caribbean. Revised edition. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-08995-7
Nevill, J. (2013). A Species Identification Guide for Commonly Caught Fish in the Seychelles Near-Shore Artisanal Fishery. GOS/UNDP/GEF.
Randall, J.E. & Bruce, R.W. (1983). The Parrotfishes of the Subfamily Scarinae of the Western Indian Ocean with Descriptions of Three New species.
Ichthyological Bulletin of the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology. Number 47 March1983 ISSN: 0073-4381
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds.) (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Hipposcarus harid, Candelamoa parrotfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/hipposcarus-harid-forsskal-1775/ (edited 15/08/22).
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