Chlorurus spilurus

Chlorurus spilurus, known commonly as the Pacific daisy parrotfish or Pacific bullethead parrotfish and in Hawaiian called uhu, is a species of marine fish in the family Scaridae.[3] The Pacific daisy parrotfish is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Pacific.

Chlorurus spilurus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Scaridae
Genus: Chlorurus
Species:
C. spilurus
Binomial name
Chlorurus spilurus
(Valenciennes, 1840)
Synonyms[2]

Scarus spilurus Valenciennes, 1840

Description

The female has a dark coloration with four pairs of white spots on the back part of its body just before the caudal peduncle. The latter and the caudal fin are whitish with black patch. There is great variation in the coloration within the males of this species. Their body is greenish with big scales outlined with purple-blue lines, three purple-blue stripes around the mouth, an orange patch on the chick with also a white one just upper the latter.[3]

Taxonomy

Chlorurus spilurus was once synonymized with Chlorurus sordidus, but recent study indicates that C. spilurus is distinct from Forsskal's species.[4][5] This species has hybridized with Chlorurus perspicillatus.[6]

Distribution

Chlorurus spilurus can be found in the Western and Central Pacific, from Indonesia to Hawaii and Pitcairn Island.[3]

Habitat

These parrotfish are found in diverse coral reefs and lagoons.

Diet

These parrotfish have strong beaks that are designed to easily break off chunks of coral to feed on coral polyps and algae growing on the coral.[7][3]

Cultural Significance

The pacific bullethead parrotfish was, and still is a favorite amongst fishermen for meals. They were usually eaten raw, but also were boiled on occasion. The Uhu also has a prominent space in Hawaiian culture and folklore, particularly in the story of Puniakaia, where a supernatural parrotfish is said to be the parent of all fish species. In the end, two heroes named Kawelo and Makuakeke killed the fish named Uhumaka'ika'i.[7]

References
  1. Choat, J.H.; Carpenter, K.E.; Clements, K.D.; Rocha, L.A.; Russell, B.; Myers, R.; Lazuardi, M.E.; Muljadi, A.; Pardede, S.; Rahardjo, P. (2012). "Chlorurus spilurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T190727A17783061. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190727A17783061.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). "Chlorurus spilurus" in FishBase. August 2019 version.
  3. Hoover, John P. (2008). The ultimate guide to Hawaiian reef fishes sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and seals. John P. Hoover. Honolulu: Mutual Pub. ISBN 978-1-56647-887-8. OCLC 243960518.
  4. Randall, J.E., 2007. Reef and shore fishes of the Hawaiian Islands. Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu. i-xivb + 1-546.
  5. Parenti, P. and J.E. Randall, 2011. Checklist of the species of the families Labridae and Scaridae: an update. Smithian Bull. 13:29-44.
  6. Choat, J.H.; Carpenter, K.E.; Clements, K.D.; et al. (2012). "Chlorurus perspicillatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T190718A17794587. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190718A17794587.en. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  7. Titcomb, Margaret (1972). Native Use of Fish in Hawaii. [2d ed.] Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii. ISBN 0-8248-0592-5.
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