Yellowbar Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Scarus schlegeli
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 38cm
Identification: Dark green to blue except lighter on upper head and foreback; short bright yellow bar on mid-back continues as pale bar below.
Favourite: Solitary or groups.
Hide-out: Coral-rich areas of coastal, lagoon and outer reefs to 50m.
Location: Pacific - E. Indonesia to French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Australia.

Greenthroat Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Scarus prasiognathos
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 70cm
Identification: Dark green with yellowish upper head and green below; broad green band across snout.
Favourite: Often form large aggregations.
Hide-out: Reef flats and seaward slopes in 3-25m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific - Seychelles and Maldives to New Ireland east of Papua New Guinea, north to S.W. Japan.

Greenlip Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Scarus virdifucatus
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 32cm
Identification: Shades of green to blue to purplish; blue-green cheek/gill cover with variable mark behind mouth, blue borders on dorsal, anal and tail fins.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Coastal, lagoon and outer reefs to 15m.
Location: Indian Ocean - E. Africa, Aldabra, Seychelles, Maldives to Sumatra and Bali in Indonesia.

Blue-Barred Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Scarus ghobban
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 75cm
Identification: Yellow to yellowish brown undercolor with large blue-green scale markings; blue-green band markings around mouths and borders of tail.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Sheltered silty inshore reefs and areas of sand and rubble in 2-30m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to French Polynesia, Galapagos, Gulf of California and Panama. S. Japan to Australia.

Bumphead Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Bolbometopon muricatum
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 126cm
Identification: Huge, with large hump on forehead; greenish gray.
Favourite: Form feeding groups.
Hide-out: Uses head to break coral. Lagoons and seaward reefs to 40m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Line Is. and Tuamotu Is. in French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Australia.

Bicolor Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Cetoscarus bicolor
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 80cm
Identification: Green with pinkish red spots and lines on head; band from mouth to belly, stripes or bands on fins.
Favourite: Usually with group of Initial Phase.
Hide-out: Lagoon and seaward reefs to 30m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Tuamotu Is. in French Polynesia. S. Japan to Australia.

Pacific Longnose Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Hipposcarus longiceps
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 60cm
Identification: Initial Phase - Long snout; pale yellowish gray with pale vertical streaks on scales, yellow tail base; short tail lobes. Terminal Phase - Similar, but lack yellow tail base.
Hide-out: Lagoon and seaward reefs on sand bottoms near reefs in 2-40m.
Location: Pacific - Indonesia to Line Is. and Tuamotu Is. in French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Australia.

Palenose Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Scarus psittacus
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 30cm
Identification: Yellow to green with salmon-pink scale margins, lavender-gray snout and bluish tail.
Favourite: Form groups.
Hide-out: Reef flats, lagoons and seaward slopes in 2-25m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea to Hawaii and French Polynesia. S. Japan to S.E. Australia and Lord Howe I.

Highfin Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Scarus Longipinnis
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 40cm
Identification: Purple with wide pale bar on forebody; green band runs from eye to pectoral fin; high rounded yellow dorsal fin, elongate tail lobes.
Hide-out: Clear outer slopes and atoll reefs in 10-55m.
Location: Pacific - Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea to Pitcaim Is. east of French Polynesia.

Stareye Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Calotomus carolinus
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 50cm
Identification: Blue-green with orange-pink bands radiating from eye.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups.
Hide-out: Lagoon and seaward reefs on coral, rubble, weed and seagrass bottoms in 2-30m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to Pitcaim Is. east of French Polynesia and Mexico. S. Japan to Australia.

Bower's Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Chlorurus bowersi
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 30cm
Identification: Green with rosy pink streak on scales; broad lavender patch on snout, large triangular orange patch on forebody.
Favourite: Usually solitary.
Hide-out: Coral-rich areas of lagoons or upper edge of channels in 2-20m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Indonesia, Philippines and Palau, north to S.W. Japan.

Japanese Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Chlorurus japanensis
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 30cm
Identification: Light green with broad purple band from forehead to belly; lavender patch on snout.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Sheltered seaward and lagoon reefs to 20m.
Location: West Pacific - Sulawesi in Indonesia and Philippines to Samoa. S.W. Japan to E. Australia.

Tan-Faced Parrotfish

Scientific Name: Chlorurus frontalis
Family: Parrotfishes - Scaridae
Maximum Size: 50cm
Identification: Green with tan patch and markings on upper head; pale green base of tail. Develop near vertical head profile and elongate tail lobes.
Favourite: Form groups.
Hide-out: Exposed reef flats and seaward reefs to 40m.
Location: Pacific - S.W. Japan and Great Barrier Reef to Line Is. and Ducie Is. east of French Polynesia.