On my first dive in the ocean, I saw many Stoplight Parrotfish. They are large fish, up to two feet long. The fish in this picture was about that big. This Stoplight Parrotfish is a female, having very different markings from a male. Notice the very large scales on the side of the fish.
Some scales are white and others are gray.
Each scale has a black outline. The fish has red fins and a red belly. Red is probably the color that you notice first when you see this fish. Also notice the pattern of lines on its gray face and the yellow spot above its eye. Parrotfishes get their names from their parrot-like mouths.