HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesPalecheek parrotfish Palecheek parrotfish (Chlorurus japanensis) Scientific name: Chlorurus japanensis Bloch, 1789 The Palecheek parrotfish (Chlorurus japanensis) is a marine fish of the family Scaridae. Native range: Pacific Ocean, Ryukyu Islands to Australia. Recently reported from Tonga. BiologyFemale is dark-brown but the tail is dark red. Male has yellow cheek and yellow area on sides near tail that are bright underwater.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameChlorurus japanensisFamilyScaridae (Parrotfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length31.0Depth range2–20 m (7–66 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 20 mClimateTropicalDistributionPacific Ocean: Ryukyu Islands to Australia. Recently reported from Tonga.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 wrassesHeavybeak parrotfishChlorurus gibbusBleeker's parrotfishChlorurus bleekeriYellowband parrotfishScarus schlegeliBlackspotted wrasseMacropharyngodon meleagrisYellowspotted wrasseMacropharyngodon negrosensisSingapore parrotfishScarus prasiognathosSee 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