HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesDark capped parrotfish Dark capped parrotfish (Scarus oviceps) Scientific name: Scarus oviceps Valenciennes, 1840 The Dark capped parrotfish (Scarus oviceps) is a marine fish of the family Scaridae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, Mauritius to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Shark Bay and the Great Barrier Reef. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. Males recognized by the dark area over head and body, and females yellow barring. Closely resembles S. dimidiatus, but S. oviceps differs in that its initial phase has fewer, less vertical diagonal black bars on the back and the terminal phase lacks the light-centered bar between the eye and the pectoral fin base, is darker and less brilliant blue on the upper head and back and is usually larger.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameScarus ovicepsFamilyScaridae (Parrotfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length35.0Depth range1–15 m (3–49 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 15 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Mauritius to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Shark Bay and the Great Barrier Reef.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More wrassesDusky parrotfishScarus nigerCommon parrotfishScarus psittacusTan-faced parrotfishChlorurus frontalisBridled parrotfishScarus frenatusEmber parrotfishScarus rubroviolaceusBicolour 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