Description
Also known as Black Parrotfish, Rainbow Parrotfish, Red-banded Parrotfish.
Found singly or in small schools, either resting on the bottom, or foraging for food, over soft bottoms and seagrass beds, of coral reefs, rich in algae growth.
They feed on benthic algae, corals, and weeds.
Length - 25cm
Depth - 2-20m
Widespread Western Atlantic, Caribbean
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/1158
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