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Dotted parrotfish (Calotomus viridescens) — Scaridae

Dotted parrotfish

Calotomus viridescens
Family: Scaridae

The Dotted parrotfish (Calotomus viridescens) is a saltwater fish of the family Scaridae that grows up to 21 cm.

Length
21 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–30.0 m
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt, Chagos Is. and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The dotted parrotfish is a parrotfish (Scaridae) from the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean. The species grows to about 21 cm and has an elongate, green-brown speckled body and a beak-shaped mouth whose teeth are less strongly fused than in other parrotfishes. As a reef-dweller it grazes weed and seagrass on rocky and seagrass-covered bottoms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dotted parrotfish?

The Dotted parrotfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly green and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Dotted parrotfish live?

The Dotted parrotfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt, Chagos Is. and others

How big does the Dotted parrotfish get?

The Dotted parrotfish grows to a maximum of about 21 cm.

Is the Dotted parrotfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Dotted parrotfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Dotted parrotfish edible?

Yes, the Dotted parrotfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Dotted parrotfish (Calotomus viridescens) — Scaridae — 2
iNaturalist (no rights reserved)
Dotted parrotfish (Calotomus viridescens) — Scaridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Bernd (CC BY 2.0)
Dotted parrotfish (Calotomus viridescens) — Scaridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Andrew Deacon (CC0)
Dotted parrotfish (Calotomus viridescens) — Scaridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Beat Akeret, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Dotted parrotfish sourced
Scientific name
Calotomus viridescens
Family
Scaridae
Other names
Viridescent parrotfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
21.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Beak-shaped sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt, Chagos Is. and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae, seaweeds and plant material inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Calotomus

More from the family Scaridae

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