Red Sea Steephead Parrotfish (Chlorurus gibbus)

Also known as Blunthead Parrotfish, Gibbus Parrotfish, Heavybeak Parrotfish, Red Sea Parrotfish, Steephead Parrotfish

Description

Also known as Blunthead Parrotfish, Gibbus Parrotfish, Heavybeak Parrotfish, Red Sea Parrotfish, Steephead Parrotfish.

Found in schools, foraging for food over outer reefs rich in algae growth.
They feed on filamentous algae.
Length - 70cm
Depth - 1-35m
Western Indian Ocean - Red Sea

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/Chlorurus-gibbus

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