About Scarus spinus (Kner, 1868)
Scarus spinus, commonly called the greensnout parrotfish, can reach a total length of approximately 30 cm in males. This species has 10 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines, and 9 anal soft rays. Underwater, males have a bright yellow head, while females are drab in color, have white teeth, and bear some pale spots. In the terminal phase of growth, the caudal fin is moderately to deeply emarginate. The lips largely cover the species' dental plates. This parrotfish is distributed across Christmas Island, and ranges from the Philippines to Samoa, the Ryukyu Islands, and the southern Great Barrier Reef. It inhabits coral-rich areas of outer lagoons and seaward reefs, found at depths between 0 and 30 meters.
