Fish Identification Photos: Loosetooth Parrotfish, Nicholsina denticulata: The Loosetooth Parrotfish has an elongated body and is more aerodynamic than other parrotfishes. It varies in color based on its stage in life, with the initial phase (female) being a drab brown, grey or redish and always strongly mottled, allowing it to easily blend into its surroundings.

In the terminal phase (male) the Loosetooth Parrotfish is greenish brown with a red throat; the bases of the pectoral fins are red, and the tail is red with pale spots. The dorsal fin has a black spot at the front and the base is red.

The Loosetooth Parrotfish reaches just 12 inches in length and is found in the first 30 feet of the water column around shallow algae covered reefs.

It is found in all Mexican waters but on a very limited basis.

The Loosetooth Parrotfish is a rare member of the Scaridae Family which includes the Parrotfishes, that are known in Mexico as Loros and Perricos, and the Nicholsina Genus which has two global members one of which is found in Mexican waters.

These fish species have elongated bodies covered with large smooth scales, anal fins with three spines and nine rays, an unnotched dorsal fin with nine spines and ten rays, and fused teeth that form a parrot-like beak.

Parrotfishes are seldom caught by anglers as they eat algae and coral, being significant “bio-eroders” of the coral reef providing valuable contributions to the structure via excretions. They reproduce by spawning with eggs and sperm being released into the water in very close proximity.

Sex reversal occurs at midlife with juveniles, females, and males of the same species having strikingly different colorations. The initial adult female phase has drab colors and the final terminal male phase has bright colors.

At night Parrotfish seek out caves and ledges where they rest on the bottom and secrete a mucus cocoon that completely envelops them.

Globally there are 89 known species of parrotfish of which six live in Mexican waters.

Loosetooth Parrotfish, Nicholsina denticulata: Male Caught by commercial Mexican fishermen in the greater Los Cabos (San Jose del Cabo) area of Baja California Sur in July 2009. Size 24 cm (10 inches). Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.