1st Edition
Parrotfish of the Great Barrier Reef Rainbows under the Sea
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: Bolbometopon muricatum: Bumphead parrotfish
Chapter 2: Calatomus carolina: Stareye parrotfish
Chapter 3: Cetoscarus ocellatus: Two-colour parrotfish
Chapter 4: Chlorurus bleekeri: Bleekers parrotfish
Chapter 5: Chlorurus japanesis: Japanese parrotfish
Chapter 6: Chlorurus microrhinos: Steephead parrotfish
Chapter 7: Chlorurus spilurus: Bullethead parrotfish
Chapter 8: Hipposcarus longiceps: Pacific longnose parrotfish
Chapter 9: Scarus altipinnis: Filament-finned parrotfish
Chapter 10: Scarus chameleon: Chameleon parrotfish
Chapter 11: Scarus dimidiatus: Blue-bridled parrotfish
Chapter 12: Scarus flavipectoralis: Yellowfin parrotfish
Chapter 13: Scarus frenatus: Bridled parrotfish
Chapter 14: Scarus ghobban: Blue-bar parrotfish
Chapter 15: Scarus globiceps: Globehead parrotfish
Chapter 16: Scarus niger: Swarthy parrotfish
Chapter 17: Scarus oviceps: Dark-cap parrotfish
Chapter 18: Scarus psittacus: Palenose parrotfish
Chapter 19: Scarus quoyi: Quoy’s parrotfish
Chapter 20: Scarus rivulatus: Surf parrotfish
Chapter 21: Scarus rubroviolaceus: Ember parrotfish
Chapter 22: Scarus schlegeli: Schlegels parrotfish
Chapter 23: Scarus spinus: Yellowhead parrotfish
Plates
Index
Further reading (references)
Biography
Michelle has PhD in hybrid Science/Visual Art from Central Queensland University. She has been an educator for 34 years and a secondary Visual Art teacher for 28 years, in Queensland, Australia. Michelle holds postgraduate qualifications in Creative Arts and has numerous qualifications in Arts disciplines. She has participated in various exhibitions and sold her work in outlets throughout Queensland. In 2015, Michelle published her first photographic underwater book with New Holland Publishers.
She says of her latest work: “I have developed a deep love and passion for our beautiful region and consider myself blessed that I live with The Great Barrier Reef at my doorstep. My work creates that magical and ephemeral moment in time which is intended to bring with it, memories and associated smells, sounds and feelings giving the audience insight and prompting reaction for the survival of one of our most beautiful environments and what I believe are the most important and beautiful of all its inhabitants, the Scarini tribe.”
'Michelle Brayshaw, artist and visual arts educator, presents an exceptional field guide to the parrotfish species living within the Great Barrier Reef. Brayshaw writes with the scrupulous attention to detail of a researcher and the presentation and reflections of an artist... What makes this book special is Brayshaw's personality and experience, which runs through it... this book is gold dust for anyone who wants to better identify parrotfish species.'
Vicky Pollington, Associate Member in 'The Marine Biologist' magazine, January 2026
‘Blending colour, images, paintings, and a love of the sea through the eyes and behaviour of her beloved Parrotfish, Michelle brings a different style to the academic books we carry on board our vessel as reference material. What is different is that you feel the pulse of the emotion between the writer and her subject, the extraordinary Parrotfish. Congratulations, Michelle, in absolutely showcasing one of our most awesome underwater creatures.’
Alan Wallish, Founder, Passions of Paradise, Reef Operator, Cairns, Australia
‘We absolutely love this book. It’s great to see this extraordinary animal bought to the pages of a comprehensive guide.’
Andy Ridley, CEO, Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef
‘The readers of this unique book will experience how colour appears and what colours do appear. The energy of colour produced from the chromatophores in the skins of the Parrotfish will evoke both feelings of pleasure and wonderment. Nature displayed in this way has a transforming effect on our being, bringing our imaginations and sensibilities into a world shielded by water, often hidden and forgotten.’
Dr. Sharyn A Schubert, Educator and Researcher, edD;, B.A.(Hons)., B.Ed.,.Grad.Dip.Theo. Ed., Dip.T.
