Diagnosis: Fin-ray counts of D-IX,10 A-III,9 are shared by all Caribbean parrotfishes, however pectoral-fin ray counts divide parrotfishes into two groups: Sparisoma, Cryptotomus roseus, and Nicholsina usta all have 13 pectoral-fin rays, while Scarus have a mode of 14-16 pectoral-fin rays (the wrasse Doratonotus megalepis also shares the median fin-ray count but has 11-12 pectoral-fin rays). Larval and transitional markings are unknown, but based on the appearance of the eastern Pacific sibling species, Nicholsina denticulata, recruits have a distinct uniformly dark pattern distinct from C. roseus and Sparisoma
