Nature Field Guide
Bumphead Parrotfish
- Spanish name
- Loro jorobado
- Scientific name
- Scarus perrico
What Do Pico & Tati Think?
Pico: “Does every fish have that forehead bump?”
Tati: “The hump becomes clearer in large individuals of this species.”
Species overview
About the Bumphead Parrotfish
Adults are green to blue-green with darker blue fins and beak. Large individuals develop a forehead hump. Young fish have a different, more tan-colored appearance.
It grazes on rocky reefs, sometimes in small groups. This species is Scarus perrico; the common name bumphead is also used for a different Indo-Pacific parrotfish, so the scientific name matters.
Identification
Key Features of the Bumphead Parrotfish
Blue beak
Green body and darker fins
Forehead hump in large fish
Habitat & range
Pacific rocky reefs and nearby coastal marine habitats. Check the linked species reference for its wider range.
Local observations
Recorded at Cabo Blanco.
When to observe
Visibility depends on water clarity, currents, depth and conditions. No fixed local viewing or migration season is assigned.
Conservation & care
Observe with a qualified guide. Do not feed, chase or handle fish. Keep fins off the reef and take all litter home.
Threats & pressures
Habitat damage and degraded water quality are pressures to prevent in coastal fish habitats. This profile does not quantify a local decline.
Observation activity
Compare forehead shapes in small and large individuals of this species.
Explore by location
Puntarenas & the Gulf Islands · South Pacific · Ocean & Coastal Life