Yellowtail Parrotfish

Found singly, pairs, or in small schools, foraging for food, over seagrass beds, of coral reefs rich in algae growth.
Juveniles can change to a mottled pattern, to blend in with surroundings.

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.