HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesCommon parrotfish Common parrotfish (Scarus psittacus) Scientific name: Scarus psittacus Forssk?l, 1775 The Common parrotfish (Scarus psittacus) is a marine fish of the family Scaridae. BiologyInhabit reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs to at least 25 m depth. Found over corals. Benthopelagic. Initial-phase fish stage usually form small feeding schools. Graze on benthic algae. Secrete a mucus cocoon.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameScarus psittacusFamilyScaridae (Parrotfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length30.0Depth range2–25 m (7–82 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 25 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa and east to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Shark Bay, Western Australia and Lord Howe Island.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.35; tmax=5) More wrassesDark capped parrotfishScarus ovicepsDusky parrotfishScarus nigerEmber parrotfishScarus rubroviolaceusTan-faced parrotfishChlorurus frontalisBridled parrotfishScarus frenatusBicolour parrotfishCetoscarus bicolorSee 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