WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Dark-capped Parrotfish

Scarus oviceps

Also known as: Blue Parrotfish, Darkcap Parrotfish, Egghead Parrotfish, Yellow-barred Parrotfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@bobgoren · Intercontinental, French Polynesia · July 20101 / 20
01

Overview

Found singly or in schools, foraging for food over lagoons, coastal and outer reefs, rich in algae growth.

Parrotfish are hermaphrodites and live in harems with a dominant male. They are not territorial, living and feeding in harmony with other species.
Their teeth are fused into powerful beaks which are used for grabbing filamentous algae from dead coral, often found feeding in a cloud of sediment.
At night parrotfish make a sleeping bag out of slime bubbles for protection against predators.
These beautiful fish whose males usually outshine the females for colour also change dramatically from juvenile to adult.

02

How to identify

Pattern
bars
Head & Mouth
dark head

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Exact location · 7
  • Country only · 13
LIVES IN

Found singly or in schools, foraging for food over lagoons, coastal and outer reefs, rich in algae growth.

04

Adult photos 20

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyScaridae
    2. genusScarus
    3. speciesScarus oviceps Valenciennes, 1840

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)