In the vibrant world of coral reefs, lives a colourful fish with unique features that make it resemble a beautiful bird. From their strong beaks to their curious feeding habits, let’s dive into the fascinating world of parrotfish!
ANATOMY
Parrotfish possess a distinctive anatomy that mirrors their name. Their bodies are decorated with beautiful colours, ranging from bright shades of blue to greens, yellows and reds. Their mouths are equipped with a unique feature: a bird-like beak. This robust stricture, made by hundreds of tiny teeth cemented together, allows parrotfish to efficiently scrape the surface of hard corals and extract their primary found source: algae.
SEXUAL DIMORPHISM
Parrotfish display an evident sexual dimorphism, with differences in colouration and morphology between females and males. In many species, males exhibit more vibrant and varied colourations, often displaying more prominent markings on their bodies. Females, instead, are usually dark or monochromatic. This difference in appearance is linked to the reproductive behaviour of parrotfish, where males’ vibrant colours and patterns serve as visual signals during courtship rituals.
CORAL GUARDIANS
Parrotfish play a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems by contributing to their health and balance. These colourful fish are herbivores and graze on algae, controlling their growth and preventing them from overgrowing corals. By doing so, parrotfish keep corals clean and healthy.
FUN FACT!
Do you know where our soft coral sand comes from? You’ll never guess! When parrotfish bite and scrape algae off rocks and dead corals, they grind up their inedible calcium-carbonate skeletons, which they then excrete as sand. A single parrotfish can produce up to a hundred kilos of white sand per year!