Scarus fuscopurpureus (Klunzinger, 1871)

Pseudoscarus forskalii var. fuscopurpureus Klunzinger, 1871: 567; lectotype: BMNH 1871.7.15.13; type locality: Al-Quseir, Egypt, Red Sea .

Purple-brown Parrotfish

Figure 8

Material examined: Underwater photographs; SMF uncatalogued [sample of tissue SOC18-216], initial phase, 16.5 cm SL, Socotra Island, Hadibo, 09 May 2018; SMF uncatalogued [sample of tissue SOC19-469], terminal male, 27 cm SL, Socotra Island, Hadibo, 12 April 2019 .

Distinctive characters: Body depth 2.4–2.8 in SL; dorsal profile of head of terminal males slightly convex; posterior nostril subequal to anterior nostril; teeth fully fused to form dental plates, about three-fourths covered by lips; cutting edge of dental plates smooth; upper dental plate with 2 in terminal males or 1 in initial phase conical teeth posteriorly; caudal fin truncate with slightly prolonged lobes in terminal males. Meristic values: Pectoral-fin rays 14; median predorsal scales 4; cheek with 2 scale rows, lower row with 5–7 scales.

Colouration: Initial phase olivaceous usually with five irregular paler bars, the scales with a narrow dark purplish edge; pelvic fins dark brown. Terminal males green, with a pale bar on body and a broken green stripe on side of caudal peduncle, the scales with magenta margins; caudal fin blue with irregular green bar and orange posterior margin. Both phases have a green stripe extending from mouth to eye and a short bar on chin.

Distribution: Restricted to and occurs throughout the Arabian region, from the northern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden (including eastern part), Socotra Archipelago, Oman and the Gulf (Randall & Bruce 1983; Randall 1995; Lips et al. 2016). Replaced by the similar S. russelii Valenceinnes, 1840 in remaining parts of the Indian Ocean.

Remarks: Observed individuals and collected specimens match the description of Scarus fuscopurpureus (Randall & Bruce 1983; Randall 1995), supporting the record of Zajonz et al. (2019). Observed in all islands of the Archipelago on coral-dominated and rocky habitat at depths of 2–12 m; a common species.