Description
Also known as Fall Parrotfish, Sixband Parrotfish, Six-banded Parrotfish, Vermiculate Parrotfish.
Found singly, or in mixed schools, foraging for food, over shallow waters, of exposed outer reefs, rich in algae growth.
They feed on filamentous algae.
Juveniles found amongst coral and rubble areas, of lagoon reefs.
Length - 47cm
Depth - 1-20m
Widespread Indo-Pacific
Parrotfish are hermaphrodites and live in harems with a dominant male. They are not territorial, living and feeding in harmony with other species.
Their teeth are fused into powerful beaks which are used for grabbing filamentous algae from dead coral, often found feeding in a cloud of sediment.
At night parrotfish make a sleeping bag out of slime bubbles for protection against predators.
These beautiful fish whose males usually outshine the females for colour also change dramatically from juvenile to adult. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5546
1 comment
Perfect description of the juvenile one in "Bellwood, David R., & Choat, J.H., 1989. A description of the juvenile phase colour patterns of 24 parrotfish species (family Scaridae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 41(1): 1�??41. [30 June 1989", page 21