HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesCarolines parrotfish Carolines parrotfish (Calotomus carolinus) Scientific name: Calotomus carolinus Valenciennes, 1840 The Carolines parrotfish (Calotomus carolinus) is a marine fish of the family Scaridae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 25. Grayish brown when fresh with scales with fine whitish markings, shading to brownish red ventrally; head paler ventrally, an indistinct orange-brown line from orbit to upper lip; posterior to orbit, 3 short dull reddish lines. Flexible dorsal spines. Caudal fin rounded in juveniles, double emarginate with slightly prolonged lobes in large males. Skin black around anus. Lateral line interrupted. Brownish red pelvic fins with blotches or spots. Dull reddish-brown iris.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameCalotomus carolinusFamilyScaridae (Parrotfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length54.0Depth range1–71 m (3–233 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 71 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific: widest ranging member of the genus, from East Africa to the Revillagigedo and Galapagos islands. Replaced by Calotomus viridescens in the Red Sea. Presence in Somalia to be confirmed.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More wrassesSpinytooth parrotfishCalotomus spinidensViridescent parrotfishCalotomus viridescensYellowbar parrotCalotomus zonarchusMarbled parrotfishLeptoscarus vaigiensisSlender wrasseSuezichthys gracilisAxillary wrasseSymphodus mediterraneusSee all wrasses SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026