How to Identify Bumphead Parrotfish

To identify Bumphead Parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

elongated

Coloration

Adults are typically dark greenish-grey to bluish-green, often with a lighter, sometimes yellowish, belly. The head can be lighter, sometimes pinkish or yellowish. Juveniles are mottled brown and white, providing camouflage.

Scale type

cycloid

Mouth position

terminal

Distinctive features

Large, bulbous nuchal hump on the forehead, more pronounced in older males., Large, fused beak-like teeth (pharyngeal teeth) used for scraping algae and biting coral., Large scales., Terminal mouth.

Dorsal fin

Single dorsal fin with 9 spines and 10 soft rays.

Tail fin

Truncate to slightly emarginate caudal fin.

Pectoral fin

Large and fan-like, used for propulsion.

Distinctive fins

Pelvic fins are relatively small.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Size

   The largest parrotfish, reaching up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length and weighing over 75 kg (165 lbs).

2. 2

   Head Shape

   The prominent, bulbous forehead (nuchal hump) is a key identifier, especially in adults. Juveniles have a less developed hump.

3. 3

   Coloration

   Adults are generally dark greenish-grey to bluish-green. Juveniles are mottled brown and white.

4. 4

   Schooling Behavior

   Often seen in large schools, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, grazing on coral reefs.

Explore Bumphead Parrotfish