Loosetooth Parrotfish, Nicholsina denticulata

Loosetooth Parrotfish, Nicholsina denticulata, Juvenile. Underwater photographs taken in Zihuantanejo Bay, Guerrero, March 2018 and February 2023. Photographs and identifications courtesy of Ron Woheau, Zihuantanejo.

Loosetooth Parrotfish, Nicholsina denticulata, Initial Phase (IP), Female. Underwater photograph taken in Zihuantanejo Bay, Guerrero, March 2018. Photograph courtesy of Ron Woheau, Zihuantanejo.

Loosetooth Parrotfish, Nicholsina denticulata, Initial Phase (IP) Female Transitioning To Terminal Phase (TP), Male. Underwater photograph taken in Zihuantanejo Bay, Guerrero, March 2018. Photograph courtesy of Ron Woheau, Zihuantanejo.

Loosetooth Parrotfish, Nicholsina denticulata, Terminal Phase (TP), Male. Fish provided by the commercial fishermen of the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, July 2009. Length: 24 cm (9.4 inches).

Loosetooth Parrotfish, Nicholsina denticulata, Terminal Phase (TP), Male. Fish provided by the commercial fishermen of the greater Los Cabos area, Baja California Sur, April 2014. Length: 32 cm (13 inches). Identification courtesy by Dr. Robert N. Lea, Monterey, California.

Loosetooth Parrotfish, Nicholsina denticulata, Terminal Phase (TP), Male. Underwater photograph taken in Zihuantanejo Bay, Guerrero, March 2018. Photograph courtesy of Ron Woheau, Zihuantanejo. Identification courtesy of H.J. Walker, Jr., Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California.

Loosetooth Parrotfish, Nicholsina denticulata, Terminal Phase (TP), Male. Underwater photograph taken in Zihuantanejo Bay, Guerrero, November 2018. Photograph courtesy of Ron Woheau, Zihuantanejo.

The Loosetooth Parrotfish, Nicholsina denticulata, is a member of the Parrotfish or Scaridae Family, and is known in Mexico as pococho beriquete. Globally, there are three species in the genus Nicholsina, of which two are found in Mexican waters, one in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific Ocean.

The Loosetooth Parrotfish has an elongated robust body and are more aerodynamic than most other Parrotfish. The females and males of the initial phase (IP) have a drab brown coloration with mottled gray and reddish tones, which allows them to blend in with their surroundings. The terminal phase (TP) males are greenish brown with a red throat and a red dorsal fin. Their anal and pectoral fins are a deep red with black tips; their dorsal and pelvic fins are transparent red; their caudal fin is rounded; and their dorsal fin has a black spot near the front. The Loosetooth Parrotfish do not have traditional parrot-like teeth; instead their teeth are free rather than being fused to the beak and have flattened pointed tips. They lack canine teeth. Their anal fin has 3 spines and 9 rays; their caudal fin is blunt  or rounded; their dorsal fin has 9 spines and 10 rays; and their pectoral fins have 13 rays. Their body is covered with large scales.

The Loosetooth Parrotfish is found in and around rocky coral reefs at depths up to 10 m (35 feet). They reach a maximum length of 32 cm (13 inches). They forage during the day, feeding on algae and corals. The Loosetooth Parrotfish are rare and poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

The Loosetooth Parrotfish is a resident of all Mexican waters of the Pacific Ocean, however, they are not abundant and only found in isolated locations.

The Loosetooth Parrotfish can be easily confused with the exceedingly rare Stareye Parrotfish, Calotomus carolinus (square caudal fin with extended end rays).

From a conservation perspective the Loosetooth Parrotfish is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable, widely distributed populations. They are not considered an important food fish due to their size. They are normally caught by commercial fishermen as a by-catch utilizing nets.