WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Festive Parrotfish

Scarus festivus

Also known as: Happy Parrotfish, Lunate Parrotfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Maldives · March 20081 / 2
01

Overview

Found in clear lagoons and seaward reefs, foraging for food over areas rich in algae growth.

These parrotfish are shy and rarely seen!

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.

02

How to identify

Pattern
lines

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found in clear lagoons and seaward reefs, foraging for food over areas rich in algae growth.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyScaridae
    2. genusScarus
    3. speciesScarus festivus Valenciennes, 1840

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)