Choerodon azurio

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	LABRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Choerodon azurio

Species Authority:

(Jordan & Snyder, 1901)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Scarbreast Tuskfin

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Data Deficient ver 3.1
Year Assessed:	2006
Assessor/s:	Shuk Man, C. & Ng Wai Chuen (Grouper & Wrasse Specialist Group)
Reviewer/s:	Sadovy, Y & Cornish, A. (Grouper & Wrasse Red List Authority)
Justification: Due to its limited geographic distribution and the general vulnerability of larger reef fishes to anything other than modest fishing pressure there is concern about the status of C. azurio. Although it does not frequently appear in markets in Hong Kong (Y. Sadovy pers. obs.) and Taiwan (Kwang-Tsao Shao pers. comm. 2004), the accumulated fishery pressure may pose a threat to the species. C. azurio is sometimes used as substitute of Humphead Wrasse because they have similar colour, shape and appearance (Queensland Department of Primary Industries 1996) As the number of Humphead Wrasse declines, it is likely that more C. azurio will be consumed, especially since the Humphead was listed on CITES Appendix II in October 2004. Therefore, more information is necessary to establish its population and conservation status.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Recorded from the Western Pacific: southern Japan, Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, and the China seas (Fishbase 2005, Academia Sinica Institute of Zoology 1962). In Taiwan, the fish is abundant in northern and eastern waters (Shao 2005). In the Sea of Japan known from Pusan, Toyama Bay, Sado Island, and the Sanin area. On the Pacific coast of Japan from Tokyo southward China seas. (Lindberg and Orlans 1967). See Figure 1 in attached PDF for range map. For further information about this species, see 61335.pdf. A PDF viewer such as Adobe Reader is required.
Countries:	Native: China; Hong Kong; Japan; Korea, Democratic People's Republic of; Korea, Republic of; Taiwan, Province of China
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Pacific – northwest; Pacific – western central

Population [top]

Population:	An otter trawl survey was conducted by Dr Kwang-Tsao Shao (Kwang-Tsao Shao pers comm. 2004.) in which only one specimen of C. azurio was caught from the depth of 30 m off the Miaoli County, northwestern Taiwan. This provided an estimate of density of 0.18 kg per square kilometer, and the specimen was 11.87 gram weight. The above statistics are under estimated because bottom trawl could not harvest in reef areas where these species prefer to stay. Records in markets and restaurant are occasional in both Hong Kong and Taiwan (Sadovy and Cornish 2000, Kwang-Tsao Shao pers. comm. 2004). Reasonably abundant in some areas of the Lamma islands (Sadovy and Cornish 2000). As there is no abundance, trend or fisheries data available hence the population status and abundance cannot be inferred from the insufficient data. Minimum population doubling time 1.4 – 4.4 years (Froese and Pauly 2005).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Population:

An otter trawl survey was conducted by Dr Kwang-Tsao Shao (Kwang-Tsao Shao pers comm. 2004.) in which only one specimen of C. azurio was caught from the depth of 30 m off the Miaoli County, northwestern Taiwan. This provided an estimate of density of 0.18 kg per square kilometer, and the specimen was 11.87 gram weight. The above statistics are under estimated because bottom trawl could not harvest in reef areas where these species prefer to stay.

Records in markets and restaurant are occasional in both Hong Kong and Taiwan (Sadovy and Cornish 2000, Kwang-Tsao Shao pers. comm. 2004).

Reasonably abundant in some areas of the Lamma islands (Sadovy and Cornish 2000).

As there is no abundance, trend or fisheries data available hence the population status and abundance cannot be inferred from the insufficient data.

Minimum population doubling time 1.4 – 4.4 years (Froese and Pauly 2005).

Population Trend:

Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	C. azurio generally inhabitats coral or rocky reef areas. The fish has been observed foraging over rocky reefs to depth of 17 m in Hong Kong (Sadovy and Cornish 2000). In China and Japan, the fish was reported to hide in reef crevices, and may inhabit fairly deep coastal waters around the rocky area (Chu 1984, Masuda et al. 1980, Shen 1984). Depth range was reported to be minimum 20 m and more common in 35 to 50 m rocky or coral reef in Taiwan (Li 1995), while 10 to 50 m was reported in Japan (Masuda 1994). The maximum size of C. azurio is TL 40 cm (Shao et al. 1996), with fork length under 250 mm were all females; but over 250 mm, males became dominant (Shung 1995). The common size is TL 20-30cm (Chu 1984). Age determination was made by means of scale reading. Judging from the deduction of the monthly change of marginal increment, the annulus is formed once a year during the period of October–December. Age length and age growth equation can be found in Shung (1995). C. azurio is protogynous, i.e. changes sex from female to male when they attain a certain size. Study in Japan showed that fish of 285 mm (SL) and larger were males and those smaller were females (Nakazono and Kusen 1991). Spawning was reported to take place around Jung (Masuda et al. 1980, Lindberg and Orlans 1967). It is a carnivore and preys on benthic crustaceans, small fishes and invertebrates, especially small gastropods (Shao et al. 1996, Chu 1984). During feeding, it swallows the whole gastropod, then digests its soft parts and excretes an undamaged shell (Li 1995). In Taiwan, C. azurio does not exhibit seasonal dimorphism. There are two different phenotypes, pink is more common while dark red is rear (Li 1995).
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

C. azurio generally inhabitats coral or rocky reef areas. The fish has been observed foraging over rocky reefs to depth of 17 m in Hong Kong (Sadovy and Cornish 2000). In China and Japan, the fish was reported to hide in reef crevices, and may inhabit fairly deep coastal waters around the rocky area (Chu 1984, Masuda et al. 1980, Shen 1984).

Depth range was reported to be minimum 20 m and more common in 35 to 50 m rocky or coral reef in Taiwan (Li 1995), while 10 to 50 m was reported in Japan (Masuda 1994).

The maximum size of C. azurio is TL 40 cm (Shao et al. 1996), with fork length under 250 mm were all females; but over 250 mm, males became dominant (Shung 1995). The common size is TL 20-30cm (Chu 1984). Age determination was made by means of scale reading. Judging from the deduction of the monthly change of marginal increment, the annulus is formed once a year during the period of October–December. Age length and age growth equation can be found in Shung (1995).

C. azurio is protogynous, i.e. changes sex from female to male when they attain a certain size. Study in Japan showed that fish of 285 mm (SL) and larger were males and those smaller were females (Nakazono and Kusen 1991). Spawning was reported to take place around Jung (Masuda et al. 1980, Lindberg and Orlans 1967).

It is a carnivore and preys on benthic crustaceans, small fishes and invertebrates, especially small gastropods (Shao et al. 1996, Chu 1984). During feeding, it swallows the whole gastropod, then digests its soft parts and excretes an undamaged shell (Li 1995).

In Taiwan, C. azurio does not exhibit seasonal dimorphism. There are two different phenotypes, pink is more common while dark red is rear (Li 1995).

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Most probably threatened by overfishing and habitat destruction. This species is a popular target of spearfishers and an excellent food fish (Sadovy and Cornish 2000).

Major Threat(s):

Most probably threatened by overfishing and habitat destruction. This species is a popular target of spearfishers and an excellent food fish (Sadovy and Cornish 2000).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	No known action has been taken.

Conservation Actions:

No known action has been taken.

Citation:	Shuk Man, C. & Ng Wai Chuen 2006. Choerodon azurio. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 08 February 2012.
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