Ecology Summary - Scarus rubroviolaceus

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Main Ref.	Bellwood, D.R. and J.H. Choat, 1990
Remarks	Occurs in seaward reefs. Usually over rocky or coral substrates, at boulder-strewn slopes at the base of high-island cliffs where it may occur in large schools. Large adult usually on upper parts of deep slopes, but seen to about 35 m depth (Ref. 48636). Roving herbivore, that feeds on detritus, turf algae and macroalgae (Ref. 30573, 57615). Was observed to feed in an oblique head-down position, scraping the surface of the turf-covered substratum. Each bite produced a pair of narrow paralle scarpes marked by dislodged algae; scarring of the substartum occurred only occasionally. The bite rate was approximately 15-20 bites per minute, with most bites being grouped in short feeding bouts. Once ingested, all algae were finely triturated by the action of the pharyngeal apparatus. Only a few filaments remained intact (Ref. 34014).

Main Ref.

Bellwood, D.R. and J.H. Choat, 1990

Remarks

Occurs in seaward reefs. Usually over rocky or coral substrates, at boulder-strewn slopes at the base of high-island cliffs where it may occur in large schools. Large adult usually on upper parts of deep slopes, but seen to about 35 m depth (Ref. 48636). Roving herbivore, that feeds on detritus, turf algae and macroalgae (Ref. 30573, 57615). Was observed to feed in an oblique head-down position, scraping the surface of the turf-covered substratum. Each bite produced a pair of narrow paralle scarpes marked by dislodged algae; scarring of the substartum occurred only occasionally. The bite rate was approximately 15-20 bites per minute, with most bites being grouped in short feeding bouts. Once ingested, all algae were finely triturated by the action of the pharyngeal apparatus. Only a few filaments remained intact (Ref. 34014).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Scarus rubroviolaceus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Soft Bottom: sand; mud;
Substrate Ref.	Shao, K.-T. and L.-S. Chen, 1992
Special habitats	Coral Reefs: reef slope/drop-offs;
Special habitats Ref.	Nguyen, N.T. and V.Q. Nguyen, 2006

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type	mainly plants/detritus (troph. 2-2.19)
Feeding type Ref.	Bellwood, D.R. and J.H. Choat, 1990
Feeding habit	grazing on aquatic plants
Feeding habit Ref.	Bellwood, D.R. and J.H. Choat, 1990

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	Original sample		Unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition
From individual food items	2.00	0.00			Trophic level and s.e. inferred from exclusive plant/detritus food items.
Ref.

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