Palenose Parrotfish

Scarus psittacus attains a standard length of 30 centimetres (12 in). The dorsal fin has 9 spines and 10 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 9 soft rays and the pectoral fin has 13–15 rays. The lips of this fish largely cover the dental plates. In the initial phase there is a canine-like tooth on upper dental plate, and in the terminal phase there are two canine-like teeth on the upper plate and a single such tooth on the lower plate. In the terminal phase the caudal fin is deeply emaginate. The initial phase individuals are uniformly red-brown with a number of pale blotches and an obvious pale head. In the terminal phase they are mostly pale green to tan in colour, with a lavender face and blue bands over their upper lip which extend rearwards over the cheek below the eye, with a second green band behind the eye and more bands on the lower lip and chin.

Scarus psittacus is widespread in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, its distribution extends from the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Aden to Sodwana Bay, it ranges eastwards across the Indian Ocean and into the Pacific Ocean extending eastwards to Hawaii, north to southern Japan and south to Australia, as far as Shark Bay in Western Australia and Lord Howe Island.