Scarus
| Scarus Temporal range: Late Miocene to Present | |
|---|---|
| Scarus psittacus (terminal phase) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Labriformes |
| Family: | Labridae |
| Tribe: | Scarini |
| Genus: | Scarus Forsskål, 1775 |
| Type species | |
| Scarus psittacus | |
| Species | |
|
about 52, see text | |
| Synonyms | |
|
List
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Scarus is a genus of parrotfishes. With 52 currently recognised extant species, it is by far the largest parrotfish genus. The vast majority are found at reefs in the Indo-Pacific, but a small number of species are found in the warmer parts of the eastern Pacific and the western Atlantic, with a single species, Scarus hoefleri in the eastern Atlantic.
The genus name Scarus comes from the Greek word σκάρος (skáros), which refers to parrotfishes.