Genus: Scarus, Parrotfishes, Smooth-beak Parrotfish

SCARUS

PARROTFISHES

Body elongate, somewhat compressed; teeth fused into a beak with two broad joined plates on each jaw, outer surface of plates smooth, not covered by lips; top jaw slightly projecting; 1-2 canines on rear side of top jaw; large crushing plates of molar teeth form “pharyngeal mill” in throat; dorsal fin IX, 10, no notch between spines and rays; anal fin III, 9; scales large, smooth, 2-4 rows on cheek; 6-7 scales on center of nape before dorsal fin; lateral line in 2 sections.

A pantropical genus with some 64 species. Six species occur in our region, 4 endemics and 2 West Atlantic species.