Sealife guideThe princess parrotfishScarus taeniopterus
Last updated on 08/07/2025 at 10:44 PM
Taxonomy
English names
Princess parrotfish
French namesPoisson perroquet princesse
Spanish namesLoro listadoLoro ñángaroLoro princesa
Scientific nameScarus taeniopterus (Lesson, 1829)
FamilyScaridae
OrderPerciformes
ClassActinopterygii
Description
The princess parrotfish stands out with a princess-like coloration, featuring a dominant bluish hue complemented by yellow in the central part of its body near the pelvic fins, transitioning into green. Two blue bands run across its head on either side of its eyes.

The princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus)
The princess parrotfish has a beak-shaped jaw, similar to that of a parrot, hence its name.
The princess parrotfish is a fish that measures around 8 inches in length, with a maximum size of about 12 inches.
Geographic range
The princess parrotfish is found in the tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean along the coasts from southern Florida to Venezuela, as well as in the Caribbean region and the Gulf of Mexico.
Habitat
The princess parrotfish typically frequents the shallow waters of coral reefs and seagrass beds. It can be found from the surface down to depths of about 82 feet. As an adult, the princess parrotfish is usually solitary but may form schools.
Diet
The princess parrotfish uses its beak-like jaw to graze on algae attached to corals, playing a role in the health of coral reefs.
Reproduction
The princess parrotfish is a protogynous hermaphrodite species. After birth, juveniles form small schools and seek shelter in seagrass beds.
Did you know ?
The princess parrotfish is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The princess parrotfish appears in the IUCN Red List since 2012 within the category Least Concern !

The princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus)
Within the same genus

Blue-barred parrotfishScarus ghobban

Blue parrotfishScarus coeruleus

Ember parrotfishScarus rubroviolaceus

Midnight parrotfishScarus coelestinus

Queen parrotfishScarus vetula

Rusty parrotfishScarus ferrugineus

Swarthy ParrotfishScarus niger
Within the same family

Bumphead parrotfishBolbometopon muricatum

European parrotfishSparisoma cretense

Redband parrotfishSparisoma aurofrenatum

Stoplight parrotfishSparisoma viride
Discover also

Blackfin barracudaSphyraena qenie

Japanese surgeonfishAcanthurus japonicus

Knife razorfishCymolutes praetextatus

Picasso triggerfishRhinecanthus aculeatus

Planehead filefishStephanolepis hispidus

Red scorpionfishScorpaena scrofa

Redfin emperorMonotaxis heterodon

Sammara squirrelfishNeoniphon sammara
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