Animal Species:Bullethead Parrotfish, Chlorurus sordidus (Forsskal, 1775)

The Bullethead Parrotfish occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific on a variety of coral reef habitats. Is is one of the most common parrot fishes.

Identification

The initial phase Bullethead Parrotfish is dark brown on the body and red around the mouth.

Terminal phase males are blue-green with pinkish scale edges. The caudal peduncle is green and the upper sides of the body are often bright yellow. The snout is lavender-pink, bordered by blue-green.

The lips cover less than half of the blue-green dental plates.

Size range

The Bullethead Parrotfish grows to 40 cm in length.

Distribution

It occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific.

In Australia it is recorded from southern to northern Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef to southern Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Chlorurus sordidus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Bullethead Parrotfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is found on coral reefs.

Classification

Species:
sordidus
Genus:
Chlorurus
Subfamily:
Scarinae
Family:
Labridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Choat, J.H. & J.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: 175-228. (as Scarus sordidus)
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433. (as Scarus sordidus)
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fish, ichthyology, Bullethead Parrotfish, Chlorurus sordidus, blue, green, yellow, 'normal fish', 30 cm - 1 m, blotches/mottled, coral reef, marine, adult,