(TP = terminal phase) Yellow to brown colored parrotfish with large bluegreen scale markings and stripes on the tail margins and the head. (IP = initial phase) yellow to brown with several, vertical bluegreen bars, sometimes broken up in spots, and bluegreen markings on the head and margins of the tail.

Marked as Least Concern according to the IUCN Red list. This species is widely distributed in the Indian Ocean. It occurs at deeper depths than most parrotfishes and is found in marginal reef habitats. It is not targeted in specific fisheries and it occurs in marine protected areas in parts of its range.

They can be found in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, South Africa, Indo-Pacific north to southern Japan, south to Perth, New South Wales. Likely at Seychelles. As well as in the Eastern Pacific: Gulf of California to Ecuador and the Mediterranean. They inhabit sheltered reefs, sandy patches and coral rubble bottoms, from 2-90 meters. Adults inhabit lagoon and seaward reefs, slopes and drop-offs. Males commonly prefer atolls where they live mainly around the inner and outer edges of barrier reefs at depths of about 10 meters, the females prefer deeper water. Small juveniles, in groups are found inshore on algae reef habitat.

Are protogynous hermaphrodites, they change sex around the age of 7 years and at 29cm. in size. Parrotfish are oviparous and show pairing during breeding.