Description
Also known as Blue-faced Parrotfish, Dusky Parrotfish, Greencheek Parrotfish, Greenface Parrotfish, Greenthroat Parrotfish, Ocean Parrotfish.
Found in large schools, foraging for food over shallow, protected reef flats, and seaward reef slopes, although more often over outer reefs rich in algae growth.
They feed on filamentous algae.
Length - 60cm
Depth - 1-30m
Widespread Indo-West 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/4971
2 comments
Posted by @fishx6Thank you for noticing the difference, fish put in the wrong place has been renamed and put in the right place as this is the Rusty Parrotfish - Scarus ferruginerus
Posted by @xs6615It strongly seems that the first picture is not the same as the other pictures as the caudal (tail) fin is completely different. I am trying to identify the first photograph, but it does not seem to be the Greenthroat.