Scarus niger

Scarus niger
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Labridae
Genus: Scarus
Species:
S. niger
Binomial name
Scarus niger
Forsskål, 1775
Synonyms
  • Callyodon niger (Forsskål, 1775)
  • Scarus chadri Lacépède, 1802
  • Scarus nuchipunctatus Valenciennes, 1840
  • Callyodon nuchipunctatus (Valenciennes, 1840)
  • Scarus limbatus Valenciennes, 1840
  • Scarus makaravar Montrouzier, 1857
  • Pseudoscarus flavomarginatus Kner, 1865
  • Pseudoscarus madagascariensis Steindachner, 1887
  • Callyodon madagascariensis (Steindachner, 1887)
  • Callyodon maoricus Jordan & Seale, 1906
  • Pseudoscarus godeffroyi Günther, 1909
  • Callyodon lineolabiatus Fowler & Bean, 1928
  • Scarus lineolabiatus (Fowler & Bean, 1928)

Scarus niger, common names the swarthy parrotfish, dusky parrotfish, and black parrotfish, is a species of parrotfish. It is in the phylum Chordata, class Actinopterygii, and family Scaridae. Like other members of its family, it has characteristic 10 dorsal soft rays, 9 dorsal spines, 9 anal soft rays, and 3 anal spines, It is found in Indo-West and Central Pacific, from the Red Sea, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to French Polynesia. It is found in lagoons, channels and outer reefs slopes on the depths of 2 to 20 metres (6 ft 7 in to 65 ft 7 in). The dusky parrotfish often lives in solitude, but males may also live in a small group of mating females. The dusky parrotfish is primarily herbivorous, and its main source of food is benthic algae. At maturity, the fish is approximately 230-240mm long and weighs around 240g.