Bicolour parrotfish
Cetoscarus bicolor
Parrotfish
parrotfish
About
Parrotfish are reef grazers known for their beak-like mouth, used to scrape algae off rock and coral. In this app the group includes the Green humphead parrotfish, Bridled parrotfish, and Dusky parrotfish.
How to tell it apart
The beak-like mouth is the clearest mark of a parrotfish and separates it from other reef fish, including its close relatives the wrasses. To tell members apart, look at colour, size, and the shape of the head, since some species develop a bump on the forehead as adults.
Appearance
Parrotfish have tightly packed teeth fused into a beak, like a parrot's mouth. Most species grow to 30 to 50 centimetres, though some pass a metre, and the green humphead parrotfish can reach 1.3 metres. The smallest species stays under 15 centimetres.
Habitat
Parrotfish live on coral reefs, rocky coasts, and seagrass beds, mostly in the Indo-Pacific, though the group is found worldwide.
Behaviour
Most parrotfish spend their time grazing on algae-covered rock and coral. Some species scrape only the surface, while others gouge out chunks, leaving visible scars on the reef.
Diet
Most parrotfish eat algae growing on rock and coral. A few, mainly larger species like the green humphead parrotfish, also eat live coral, though this is not their main food.
Did you know?
Parrotfish grind up rock and coral with their teeth as they feed, then pass out the leftover material as fine sand, helping build the sandy beaches around coral reefs.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
