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(Click for large pic. 26Kb)
The Purple Tusk‑fish is a strikingly beautiful species found abundantly along the entire Queensland coastline, ranging from the inner coral reefs of the north to the rocky outcrops of Hervey Bay and the weed beds of the Southport Broadwater. In fact. in Moreton Bay (S. Qld.) it lakes the name “Grass Parrot” from the fact that it is commonly captured in proximity to dense stands of eel grass (Zostera) lining the banks of deep channels and gutters.
The body coloration of the Purple Tusk fish is a glowing blue purple, shading to creamy yellow on the belly. The sides carry a close set series of narrow deep blue vertical broken lines, closely crowded towards the head and breaking up into an irregular scatter of spots towards the tail, The nose and forehead bear a well defined brilliant purple stripe which is crossed by about ten narrow bright orange lines. The teeth are bright blue. The chin and the area surrounding, the eye have a series of short blue bars upon them. The dorsal fin is beautifully barred in blue and orange, and the tail is barred vertically with narrow streaks of blue-purple and orange brown, its upper lobe carrying a triangle of bright blue and. sometimes a thin crimson band. The olive green pectoral fin has at its base a bold pattern of alternating orange and bright blue bands.
This very striking fish grows to 380 mm (15 inches)and is rightly regarded as an excellent table fish, the flesh coming away from the blue green bones in large, fine, white flakes.
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