WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Princess Parrotfish

Scarus taeniopterus

Also known as: Blue Chub, Painted-tail Parrotfish, Sammy Johnson, Snotty Parrot, Snotty Parrotfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Bonaire - Dive Site - Kline 1, Caribbean Netherlands · November 20101 / 21

Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.

01

Overview

Found in large schools, foraging for food, over coral and rocky bottoms of reefs, rich in seagrass 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
lines

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.

  • Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
  • Exact location · 1
  • Country only · 20
LIVES IN

Found in large schools, foraging for food, over coral and rocky bottoms of reefs, rich in seagrass growth.

04

Adult photos 21

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyScaridae
    2. genusScarus
    3. speciesScarus taeniopterus Lesson, 1829

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)