Parrotfishes (Teleostei: Labridae: Scarini) of the Socotra Archipelago: Diversity and distributional biogeography, including a range extension of Scarus zufar Randall & Hoover, 1995

A comprehensive study reveals that the Socotra Archipelago hosts 14 species of parrotfish, including three previously tentatively recorded and one with a significant range extension. Scarus zufar, known from coastal waters of southern Oman, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, is now confirmed in Socotra, marking its westernmost distribution. The research, based on underwater observations, photography, and collections, identifies distinct biogeographical units within the Arabian region, with Socotra's parrotfish diversity more closely aligning with the Gulf unit than the Red Sea unit. This contrasts broader reef fish patterns in Arabia, highlighting unique distributional dynamics in the Western Indian Ocean.

ZAJONZ, U., BOGORODSKY, S. V., SAEED, F. K. N., AL-DEED, M. S., & LAVERGNE, E. (2023). Parrotfishes (Teleostei: Labridae: Scarini) of the Socotra Archipelago: Diversity and distributional biogeography, including a range extension of Scarus zufar Randall & Hoover, 1995. Zootaxa, 5389(3), 301–330. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5389.3.1