A revision of the parrotfishes (family Scaridae) of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia with description of a new species

Abstract

The family Scaridae is represented on the tropical and subtropical coasts of eastern Australia by 25 previously described species. Three species belong in the subfamily Sparisomatinae: Leptosearus vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard); Calotomus earolinus (Valenciennes); Calotomus spinidens (Quoy & Gaimard). The remainder are included in the subfamily Scarinae: Bolbometopon murieatum (Valenciennes); Cetosearus bieolor (Ruppell); Hipposearus longieeps (Valenciennes); Searus altipinnis (Steindachner); Searus bleekeri (de Beaufort); Searus dimidiatus Bleeker; Searus flavipeetoralis Schultz; Searus forsteni (Bleeker); Searus frenatus Lacepede; Searus frontalis Valenciennes; Searus ghobban Forssk3I; Searus gibbus Ruppell; Searus globieeps Valenciennes; Searus longipinnis Randall & Choat; Searus niger Forsskal; Searus ovieeps Valenciennes; Searus psittaeus Forsskal; Searus pyrrhurus (Jordan & Seale); Searus rivulatus Valenciennes; Searus rubroviolaeeus Bleeker; Searus sehlegeli (Bleeker); Searus sordidus Forssk3J; Searus spinus Kner. The scarid from Australian waters previously misidentified as Searus lunula (a synonym of Searusfestivus Valenciennes) represents an undescribed species Searus chameleon, described herein. Searus chameleon has a distribution that includes the western and southern Pacific. It is similar to S.festivus but differs in patterns of head and body colouration in the terminal phase, and in the head profile. All but three species listed above are most commonly encountered on the coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef and the adjacent coral sea. The exceptions are the sparisomatine species Leptosearus vaigiensis and Calotomus spinidens, and the scarinine species Searus ghobban. The former two species are often associated with seagrass beds in coastal areas, while Searus ghobban frequents a variety of non­ reef habitats. Many of the species listed extend into northern and western Australian waters. Additional collecting is required to establish the limits and identities of the entire Australian scarid . fauna. Colour photographs of fresh specimens illustrating the different colour phases of all 27 species are provided. In addition, underwater colour photographs of most species are provided with an emphasis on those which show confusing patterns of short term variation in the initial colour phase. Illustrations of the juvenile phase are provided for some species. CHOAT, 1.H. & 1.E. RANDALL, 1986. A review of the parrotfishes (Family Scaridae) of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, with description of a new species. Records of the Australian Museum 38(4): 175-239.