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Parrotfish
Parrot fish
Scientific Name:
Scaridae
(Family of over 90 species)
Types:
Stoplight Parrotfish
(
Sparisoma viride
)
Rainbow Parrotfish
(
Scarus guacamaia
)
Blue Parrotfish
(
Scarus coeruleus
)
Bicolor Parrotfish
(
Cetoscarus bicolor
)
Bumphead Parrotfish
(
Bolbometopon muricatum
) – The largest species
Habitat:
Found in
tropical coral reefs, seagrass beds, and rocky coastlines
.
Prefer shallow waters up to
30 meters (100 feet)
but can be found deeper.
Often seen grazing on coral reefs, helping maintain reef health.
Diet:
Herbivorous
– primarily feed on
algae and coral polyps
.
Their
beak-like teeth
allow them to scrape algae from rocks and corals.
Their digestion creates
fine white sand
, contributing to beach formation.
Reproduction:
Many species are
sequential hermaphrodites
, starting as females and later changing into males.
External fertilization
– eggs are released into the water column.
Some species form
harems
, with one dominant male and multiple females.
Spotting Tips:
Look for
bright, multicolored scales
and a
beak-like mouth
.
Often seen
grazing on corals
or swimming in
small groups
.
Some species create a
mucus cocoon at night
to protect themselves from predators.
Countries:
Found in
tropical and subtropical waters
worldwide, especially in the
Indo-Pacific, the Caribbean, the Red Sea, and the Great Barrier Reef
.
Commonly seen in
Hawaii, Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, and Florida
.
Stoplight parrotfish
Stoplight Parrotfish (
Sparisoma viride
)
Habitat:
Caribbean coral reefs
Features:
Named for its
color phases
—juveniles are red and white, while adults are green with yellow accents.
Fun Fact:
Its name comes from the
red, yellow, and green coloration
, resembling a stoplight.
Rainbow Parrotfish
Rainbow Parrotfish (
Scarus guacamaia
)
Habitat:
Western Atlantic, including the Caribbean and Florida
Features:
One of the
largest
parrotfish species, reaching
over 1.2 meters (4 feet)
in length.
Fun Fact:
Plays a key role in
coral reef health
by grazing on algae.
Blue parrotfish
Blue Parrotfish (
Scarus coeruleus
)
Habitat:
Western Atlantic, from the Bahamas to Brazil
Features:
Has an
entirely blue body
with a yellow spot on the head as a juvenile.
Fun Fact:
Unlike other parrotfish, this species remains
one color throughout its life
.
Bicolor Parrotfish
Bicolor Parrotfish (
Cetoscarus bicolor
)
Habitat:
Indo-Pacific coral reefs
Features:
Juveniles are
white with an orange stripe
, while adults have
green, blue, and orange hues
.
Fun Fact:
All individuals start as
females
and some later transform into
males
.
Bumphead parrotfish
Bumphead Parrotfish (
Bolbometopon muricatum
)
Habitat:
Indo-Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef
Features:
The
largest parrotfish
, growing up to
1.5 meters (5 feet)
, with a distinct
bulging forehead
.
Fun Fact:
It uses its
head to ram corals
, breaking them into smaller pieces to feed on.