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Greenhead parrotfish (Chlorurus troschelii) — Scaridae

Greenhead parrotfish

Chlorurus troschelii
Family: Scaridae

The Greenhead parrotfish (Chlorurus troschelii) is a saltwater fish of the family Scaridae that grows up to 35 cm.

Length
34.6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–25.0 m
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Andaman Is.

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Description

The Greenhead parrotfish is a parrotfish (Scaridae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 35 cm and has fused, beak-like teeth with which it rasps algae and coral from the reef, producing fine sand. Males have a green head and a blue-green body. Like many parrotfish it changes sex and colour. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Greenhead parrotfish?

The Greenhead parrotfish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly green.

Where does the Greenhead parrotfish live?

The Greenhead parrotfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Andaman Is.

How big does the Greenhead parrotfish get?

The Greenhead parrotfish grows to a maximum of about 35 cm.

Is the Greenhead parrotfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Greenhead 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.

More photos

Greenhead parrotfish (Chlorurus troschelii) — Scaridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — BEDO (Thailand) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Greenhead parrotfish (Chlorurus troschelii) — Scaridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) wingwatcher48, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Greenhead parrotfish (Chlorurus troschelii) — Scaridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Jacek Pietruszewski, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Greenhead parrotfish (Chlorurus troschelii) — Scaridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) CaracalShan, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Greenhead parrotfish sourced
Scientific name
Chlorurus troschelii
Family
Scaridae
Other names
Troschel's parrotfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
34.6 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Beak-shaped sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Andaman Is. sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

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 Chlorurus

More from the family Scaridae

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