Order Perciforms Higher classification Calotomus | Phylum Chordata Family Labridae Scientific name Calotomus carolinus Rank Species | |
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Similar Calotomus, Parrotfish, Redlip Parrotfish, Calotomus spinidens, Calotomus zonarchus | ||
Calotomus carolinus, commonly known as Carolines parrotfish, is a species of parrotfish. It is also known as the Starry-eye Parrotfish or Stareye Parrotfish.
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Description
The species is about 50 centimetres (20 in) long. The species changes its appearance greatly during the transition to adulthood. Juveniles of the species are typically a mottled orangish-brown, with some pink shading. Adult males of the species are shades of blue or green, and have pink lines radiating from their eyes. Adult females are mottled brown and their eyes bulge out slightly. Its jaws consist of pebble-like teeth fused into a beak for eating seaweed, but in juveniles the teeth are not yet fully fused and are visible on the outside of the dental plate.
Habitat
The species is widely distributed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It can typically be found as a single fish or in small groups, in shallow reefs or lagoons.
