DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

ZOOGEOGRAPHY

ECOLOGY

BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

VALUE OF FISH RESOURCES

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

DANGEROUS MARINE FISHES

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

BIBLIOGRAPHY

SPECIES INDEX

CHAMORRO NAMES

SCARIDAE (PARROTFISHES)

Parrotfishes are closely related to wrasses but differ most obviously from them in possessing teeth fused into a distinctive beak.  Most parrotfishes are grazing herbivores that travel in large mixed-species schools (often with surgeonfishes and rabbitfishes) and scrape filamentous algae from the surface of dead coral and rock.  A few species browse on leafy seaweeds or living coral.  All scarids are inactive at night, sleeping in crevices and holes.  Individuals of a few species under 300 mm SL secrete a mucus cocoon which blocks their scent from certain nocturnal predators such as moray eels.  Small juveniles tend to be brown or grey with spots or stripes; larger primary phase individuals (Palagsi) are usually a drab brown or grey; and terminal phase individuals (Lagua) are usually a colorful combination of green and blue.  At least 18 species of these important food fishes are known from Guam.  A few of the larger species have been known to be slightly ciguatoxic in certain localities.  The largest species, Bolbometapon muricatus (called Atuhun locally), attains a total length of 150 m and a weight of 75 kg.  It occurs in deeper channels, lagoons, and seaward reefs.  It is among the wariest of fishes and has become scarce because of overfishing in many areas.

Scarus altipinnis (Steindachner)
Chlorurus microrhinos Bleeker
Scarus psittacus (Forsskål)
Scarus schlegeli (Bleeker)
Chlorurus sordidus Forsskål
Scarus tricolor Bleeker