WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Bluemoon Parrotfish

Chlorurus atrilunula

Also known as: Black Crescent Parrotfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
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01

Overview

Found foraging for food, over rubble and sandy areas, of silty lagoons and protected reefs, rich in algae growth.
Western Indian Ocean - Kenya, South Africa

Parrotfish are hermaphrodites and live in harems with a dominant male. They are not territorial and live in harmony with other species, often found feeding together.
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.
They are brightly coloured and change dramatically from juvenile to adult.
At night parrotfish make sleeping bags out of slimy bubbles for protection against predators.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
lines

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Indian Ocean
LIVES IN

Found foraging for food, over rubble and sandy areas, of silty lagoons and protected reefs, rich in algae growth.

04

Adult photos 0

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyScaridae
    2. genusChlorurus
    3. speciesChlorurus atrilunula (Randall & Bruce, 1983)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)