As in many of its relatives, it is a sequential hermaphrodite, starting as female (known as the initial phase) and then changing to male (the terminal phase). The initial phase is dark brown with a large cream patch on the upper part of the body. The terminal phase is very colourful, overall green with pink spotting to the body and edging to the fins. Juveniles are white with a black spot on the dorsal fin and an orange band through the eye.
Least concern on the IUCN Red List. Parrotfish are fished and under threat by loss of coral reef habitat, but they are considered to be minor threats.
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Izu Island, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef. Occurs in clear lagoon and seaward reefs. Juveniles usually solitary; adults form harems; males are territorial. Goes to several changes during growth and very large females change sex to the brightly colored males. Small juveniles usually in dense coral and algae habitats. They can be found in a depth range of 1-30 meters.
–
–
–
–