WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Steephead Parrotfish

Chlorurus strongylocephalus

Also known as: Indian Ocean Steephead Parrotfish, Indian Parrotfish, Purple-headed Parrotfish, Roundhead Parrotfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2012
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 52

Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.

01

Overview

Found singly or in schools, foraging for food over reef edges, of lagoons and seaward reefs rich in algae growth.

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

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.

  • Range · Indian Ocean
  • Exact location · 3
  • Country only · 49
LIVES IN

Found singly or in schools, foraging for food over reef edges, of lagoons and seaward reefs rich in algae growth.

04

Adult photos 52

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyScaridae
    2. genusChlorurus
    3. speciesChlorurus strongylocephalus (Bleeker, 1855)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Parrotfishes (Scaridae)