Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Nicholsina denticulata
pococho beriquete, Loosetooth parrotfish
Terminal phase shades of green. Initial phase Drab shades of brown. Smallest parrotfish in eastern Pacific; resembles a wrasse. Teeth are not completely coalesced into a beak as those of most parrotfish. Can change color and m. Size: Uncommon over 20 cm.
Habitat: Inhabitants of macrophytic algae in areas where the water is cooler.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Order
Eupercaria incertae sedis
Suborder
Labroidei
Family
Scaridae
Genus
Nicholsina
Species
denticulata
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Xenoscarus denticulatus Evermann & Radcliffe, 1917, Xenoscarus hubbsi Harry, 1950, fide Appeltans et al. (2010)
Origin: Native
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Eastern Pacific, Gulf of California to Peru, and Ecuador in Galapagos Islands.
- Grove, J.S. Lavenberg, R.J. (1997) The Fishes of the Galapagos Islands. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. 862 pp.
- Humann, P. Deloach, N. (2003) Reef Fish Identification - Galapagos. New World Publication, Inc. Florida USA & Libri Mundi, Quito, Ecuador, 226 pp.
- Appeltans, W. Bouchet, P., Boxshall, G.A., Fauchald, K., Gordon, D.P., Hoeksema, B.W., Poore, G.C.B., van Soest, R.W.M., Stöhr, S., Walter, T.C., Costello, M.J. (eds.) (2010) World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Available online at http://www.marinespecies.org.
- IUCN (2010) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 April 2010.
- McCosker, J.E. Rosenblatt, R.H. (2010) The fishes of the Galápagos Archipelago: an update. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sc., Ser. 4, vol. 61, Suppl. II, no. 11: 167-195.
- Edgar, G.J. Fariña, J.M., Calvopiña, M., Martínez, C. & Banks, S. (2002) Comunidades submareales rocosas II: Peces y macroinvertebrados móviles. In: Danulat, E. & Edgar, G.J. (eds.) (2002): Reserva Marina de Galápagos. Línea Base de la Biodiversidad. Fundación Charles Darwin/Servicio Parque Nacional Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador, p. 68-97.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Nicholsina denticulata", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7727. Accessed 12 August 2025.