Parrotfish
Scaridae ssp.
Fun Facts About Parrotfish
Parrotfish are named for their beak-like teeth.
Parrotfish poop returns to the ocean as soft sand!
Parrotfish help keep coral reefs clean and healthy.
Where Do Parrotfish Live?
Parrotfish live in tropical and temperate ocean waters in protected areas where there is algae to feed on. They are usually found in areas that provide protection, like coral reefs and seagrass beds.
What Do Parrotfish Eat?
The diet of a parrotfish is dependent on their species! Many species of parrotfish feed on algae, while others eat seagrasses, sponges, or even coral. Parrotfish play an important role in many ocean ecosystems by keeping algae growth in check.
What Do Parrotfish Look Like?
Parrotfish are typically brightly colored! Smaller species only measure about one foot, while the largest species can reach four feet in length. They have large, fused teeth that create a beak-like appearance. That's how they got their name!
Parrotfish Poop
After parrotfish eat rock and coral, it comes out the other side as fine, white sand! The humphead parrotfish (the largest species), can produce hundreds of pounds of sand in a single year.
Parrotfish Vs. Coral Reef
Scientists used to think that coral-eating parrotfish were damaging the reefs, but they have recently found that parrotfish are actually helping reefs! As parrotfish feed on the corals, they also eat any algae growing on the coral. Once the algae is removed, the corals are free to grow with little competition. Eventually, all that digested coral returns to the sea as sand!
Parrotfish Mucus
Some species of parrotfish produce mucus from a special gland in their gills. When they sleep, they wrap themselves up in the ooey-gooey mucus. Scientists hypothesize they do this for two reasons: to protect them from small parasites and to mask their small from large predators, like reef sharks!
Do Parrotfish Have Predators?
Yes! The warm ocean waters where parrotfish live are filled with predators. Lemon sharks are a main predator of parrotfish, as are reef sharks like white-tip reef sharks and black-tip reef sharks. They are also preyed upon by moray eels!
Parrotfish Can Change from Female to Male!
Most species of parrotfish are sequential hermaphrodites, meaning they change sex during their lives! Most start as females, then some become male as they mature. For many species, one larger male lives with a group of smaller females. As the females grow, some become male and challenge the resident male for dominance. When they change sex, they often dramatically change colors!
Are Parrotfish Endangered?
IUCN Rating: Least Concern
The health of parrotfish populations often depends on the region. In some areas, parrotfish populations flourish. In other areas, their populations are threatened by overfishing and destruction of coral reefs. Warming ocean temperatures also impact parrotfish because they affect the health of the reef. As ocean temperatures warm, coral reefs cannot survive and undergo coral bleaching. Many species of parrotfish depend on healthy corals to survive!
You can help parrotfish by eating sustainably harvested seafood and by reducing your carbon footprint. By using less electricity and practicing the three Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle)!
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