WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Tricolor Parrotfish

Scarus tricolor

Also known as: Three-colour Parrotfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 11
01

Overview

Found singly or in schools, foraging for food over lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral 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
Fins & Tail
red tail

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 11
LIVES IN

Found singly or in schools, foraging for food over lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.

04

Adult photos 11

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyScaridae
    2. genusScarus
    3. speciesScarus tricolor Bleeker, 1847

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)