Chlorurus spilurus

{{Short description|Species of ray-finned fishes}} {{Speciesbox | image = Pacific bullethead parrotfish (Chlorurus spilurus) (49252340073) 1.jpg | image2 = Chlorurus spilurus , Queensland, Australia imported from iNaturalist photo 160210598.jpg | image2_caption = Male (top) and female (bottom) | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Choat, J.H. |author2=Carpenter, K.E. |author3=Clements, K.D. |author4=Rocha, L.A. |author5=Russell, B. |author6=Myers, R. |author7=Lazuardi, M.E. |author8=Muljadi, A. |author9=Pardede, S. |author10=Rahardjo, P. |date=2012 |title=''Chlorurus spilurus'' |volume=2012 |article-number=e.T190727A17783061 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190727A17783061.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> | taxon = Chlorurus spilurus | authority = (Valenciennes, 1840) | synonyms = ''Scarus spilurus'' <small>Valenciennes, 1840</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase|Chlorurus|spilurus|month=August|year=2019}}</ref> }}

'''''Chlorurus spilurus''''', commonly known as the '''Pacific daisy parrotfish ''' or '''Pacific bullethead parrotfish''' and in Hawaiian called uhu, is a species of marine fish in the family Scaridae.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Hoover|first=John P.|title=The ultimate guide to Hawaiian reef fishes sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and seals|date=2008|publisher=Mutual Pub|others=John P. Hoover|isbn=978-1-56647-887-8|location=Honolulu|oclc=243960518}}</ref> The Pacific daisy parrotfish is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Pacific.

==Taxonomy== ''Chlorurus spilurus'' was once synonymized with ''Chlorurus sordidus'', but recent study indicates that ''C. spilurus'' is distinct from Forsskal's species.<ref>Randall, J.E., 2007. Reef and shore fishes of the Hawaiian Islands. Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawaiʻi, Honolulu. i-xivb + 1-546.</ref><ref>Parenti, P. and J.E. Randall, 2011. Checklist of the species of the families Labridae and Scaridae: an update. Smithian Bull. 13:29-44.</ref> This species has hybridized with ''Chlorurus perspicillatus''.<ref name="iucn2">{{cite iucn | author1 = Choat, J.H. | author2 = Carpenter, K.E. | author3 = Clements, K.D. | author4 = Rocha, L.A. | author6 = Myers, R. | author5 = Russell, B. | author7 = Lazuardi, M.E.| author8 = Muljadi, A. | author9 = Pardede, S. | author10 = Rahardjo, P. | display-authors = 3 | year = 2012 | title = ''Chlorurus perspicillatus'' | article-number = e.T190718A17794587 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T190718A17794587.en | accessdate = 9 February 2020}}</ref> ==Distribution== ''Chlorurus spilurus'' can be found in the Western and Central Pacific, from Indonesia to Hawaii and Pitcairn Island.<ref name=":1" /> ==Description== [[File:Chlorurus spilurus , Queensland, Australia imported from iNaturalist photo 162656069.jpg|left|thumb|Initial phase (front) with ''Scarus'' sp. (back), Queensland, Australia]] The initial phase fish, which can be female or male, have a white beak, an overall dark reddish coloration with a white caudal peduncle and fin with a black patch.<ref name=":1" /> There is great variation in the coloration among the terminal males of this species. Their body is greenish with big scales outlined with purple-blue lines, three purple-blue stripes around the mouth, and an orange and a white patch on the cheek.<ref name=":1" />

== 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Titcomb|first=Margaret|title=Native Use of Fish in Hawaii. [2d ed.]|publisher=Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii|year=1972|isbn=0-8248-0592-5}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

== 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.<ref name=":0" />

==References== {{Reflist|refs=Titcomb, Margaret. Native Use of Fish in Hawaii. [2d ed.]. Honolulu: University Press of Hawaii, 1972. Print.

Hoover, John P., and John P. Hoover. The Ultimate Guide to Hawaiian Reef Fishes Sea Turtles, Dolphins, Whales, and Seals . Rev. ed. Honolulu: Mutual Pub., 2008. Print.

Hoover, John P. Hawaii's Fishes : a Guide for Snorkelers, Divers, and Aquarists . Honolulu, Hawaii: Mutual Pub., 1993. Print. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2021.FishBase.World Wide Web electronic publication.www.fishbase.org, ( 06/2021 ) "Intertidal of Hawaiʻi". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2021-10-17.}}

==External links==

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spilurus Category:Fish of Palau Category:Taxa named by Achille Valenciennes Category:Fish described in 1840