HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesDusky parrotfish Dusky parrotfish (Scarus niger) Scientific name: Scarus niger Forssk?l, 1775 The Dusky parrotfish (Scarus niger) is a marine fish of the family Scaridae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9. The western Pacific population is monochromatic, but the western Indian Ocean population has a distinctive reddish primary phase. Juveniles recognized by the twin black spots on the tail.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameScarus nigerFamilyScaridae (Parrotfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length40.0Depth range0–15 m (0–49 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 15 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa and east to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Shark Bay, Western Australia and the southern Great Barrier Reef.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.37-0.72) More wrassesDark capped parrotfishScarus ovicepsTan-faced parrotfishChlorurus frontalisBridled parrotfishScarus frenatusCommon parrotfishScarus psittacusEmber 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