A rare species of fish has been discovered off Masirah Island in South Al Sharqiyah governorate recently. The Centre for Marine Sciences and Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has discovered a new pair of parrot fish, scientifically known as Queen Coris, which were hunted by a gill net near the coast off Masirah Island.
According to a statement by the ministry, these are rare species of the fish hailing from a family scientifically known as Labridae or Coris Formosa. The most important and remarkable characteristic of this fish is that it changes colouration and patterns repeatedly through its life at various stages.
The difference of colours between the adult male and female can be distinguished easily. The younger parrot fish is orange in colour with white patterns. When it grows older it becomes black in colour. As it ages, the female parrot fish takes on many colours and looks different from the younger ones.
Similarly, the male parrot fish also changes colours and it becomes difficult to even identify it, said the ministry. These parrot fish are known in Oman as ‘Al Barq’. They are found to the west of the Indian Ocean, particularly in the Arabian Sea and the Sea of Oman in coral reefs and sea grass. The male and female parrot fish are usually spotted together, it said.
Oman has a 3,165-kilometre long coastline, one of the longest compared to many of its neighbouring countries. It is open to three seas: the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea which makes it easy for the migration for fish species of various types. The ministry is expected to publish a detailed research paper on the subject with more information about the presence of these fish off Masirah Island.
It has a laboratory for research on the different varieties of fish. The centre is attached with the Directorate General of the Fisheries Research of the ministry. It records and prepares statistical data of fisheries in coordination with the authorities concerned.
Similarly, a parrot fish of another variety found off Dimaniyat Island is also famous for its beauty. Earlier this year, an Omani fisherman had found another type of parrot fish, scientifically named as Iniistius pavo, at Ras al Shajar in Quriyat. They are commonly referred to as peacock wrasse.
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