Maximum length: 1.30 m

Depth: 1 - 30 m

Single or in pairs in outer and fringing reefs.

The most massive of all parrotfish is easily recognised by its size

and its forehead hump, which develops with age.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum adult length: 90 cm

Depth: 1 - 30 m

Territorial males maintain harems, but the females are widely scattered over the reef.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 70 cm

Depth: 1 - 50 m

Typical is the steep, blunt head profile, which becomes even steeper with age.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 40 cm

Depth: 1 - 30 m

Adults with a rounded head.

Can be found on lagoons, outer reefs and reef tops.

Makes long migrations between feeding and sleeping areas.

Not shy.

Photo 1 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 75 cm

Depth: 1 - 30 m

Roaming over sand and fine rubble near coral reefs, where it grazes on filamentous algae.

Occasionally travelling in large groups.

Photos 1 + 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Photo 3 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 90 cm

Depth: 5 - 80 metres

Marine blue body with bright blue markings on the head.

Found around reefs and sandy areas where they scrape algae from corals and rocks.

Not shy, but retreats when approached closely.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Photo 3 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 1.2 m

Depth: 3 - 25 m (as stated in the books, but I have seen them at less than 40 m) 

Swim around reefs.

They scrape algae off rocks and corals.

Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Photos 2 - 3 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 40 cm

Depth: 1 - 60 m

Females have a yellow tail.

Often found on spotted reefs with small sand patches.

Not very shy.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length, male: 47 cm

Depth: 0.3 - 25 m

Lives in clear lagoons and on outer reefs.

At high tide it grazes algae on the reef top.

Photo 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 38 cm

Depth: 2 - 20 metres

It lives in channels, bays and nearshore fringing reefs.

Found singly or in small groups on sand near patch reefs or slopes.

Can change colour quickly.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 1.20 m

Depth: 3 - 25 m

Its rear half of its body is bright green, its head orange-brown.

Its caudal fin is straight, but the tips become longer with age.

Scrapes algae from corals and rocks around reefs.

Not shy, but will move away if approached too closely.

Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Photos 2 - 3 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean 

Maximum length: 25 cm

Depth: 3 - 25 m

Caudal fin blue or green.

A golden to yellow spot or stripe above and behind the pectoral fins.

Unlike the princess parrotfish, this one has no dark tail fin edges.

Photos 1 - 3 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 40 cm

Depth: 1 - 30 m

Found in clear lagoons, bays and outer reefs.

Usually travelling singly.

Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt

Maximum length: 33 cm

Depth: 3 - 25 m

Blue to green body, the edges of the caudal fin are orange to yellow or pink,

in the centre of the sides of the body there is a yellow to orange stripe

that fades towards the back.

Two blue to green stripes run from the snout to the eye.

Juvenile: Their body has three black and two white longitudinal stripes,

which fade as they grow up.

This parrotfish also swims around reefs

and scrapes algae off corals and rocks.

It is not shy, but will retreat if approached too closely.

Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Photos 2 - 3 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 60 cm

Depth: 3 - 25 metres

Adult: Their mouth has a striking green to blue pattern

and they have a light-coloured stripe on their pectoral fins.

Initial stage: Dark grey to black body,

with a broad white stripe down the middle of both sides of their body.

They are found around reefs where they are scraping algae off corals and rocks.

They are not shy, but will retreat if approached too closely.

Photos 1 - 4 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

 Maximum length: 60 cm

Depth: 5 - 25 m

There is a bright yellow spot on the upper gill cover.

The root of the tail has a yellow area with a salmon-coloured,

crescent-shaped pattern.

The ventral and caudal fins are red in colour.

In the juvenile phase, they have three longitudinal rows of white spots

on their reddish-brown body with a white band on the caudal fin. 

 Photos 1 - 2 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Photos 3 - 4 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean 

Maximum length: 28 cm

Depth: 3 - 20 m

Greenish body, small yellow spot with several small black dots at the top of the front body.

From the mouth to behind the eye it has an orange to salmon-coloured band.

Juvenile: Reddish-brown in colour, usually with two white longitudinal stripes.

Scrapes algae from corals and rocks in the reef area.

Not shy, but will move away if approached too closely.

Photos 1 - 2 + 4 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Photo 3 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 35 - 45 cm

Depth: 1 - 15 m

The rear edge of the caudal fin has a reddish crescent-shaped pattern.

The pectoral fins have a black spot at the base.

Shy, it is difficult to approach as it always keeps a safe distance.

Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean

Maximum length: 45 cm

Depth: 1 - 12 metres

Adult fish is completely blue to green in colour

and has a crescent-shaped yellow to white marking on the caudal fin.

Initial phase: tail root and caudal fin yellow, body pale to grey.

Shy, very difficult to approach

Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean