Parrot Fish

Parrot Fish

Parrot Fish
Parrot fish are a sub family of the Wrasse. They are a marine reef fish and can be found all over the world. Over ninety species of Parrot fish have been identified. The Sparisoma genus can be found in the Atlantic, the Calotomus and Scarus genus are native to the Indo-Pacific and the Bolbometopon genus can be found in the Red Sea as well as the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Interesting Information about Parrot Fish
The Parrot fish gets its name from the dentition of its teeth. Its teeth are are tightly compacted on the external jaw-bone surface and form a beak which it thought to resemble that of a parrot. They use this beak to remove algae from coral and other rocks around the reef. As the parrotfish feed, they ingest coral and rock which is ground to sand by its powerful teeth. It is thought that the average parrotfish produces up to 90kg of sand a year! When they need to sleep, Parrotfish burrow into the sand or find a rock crevice. They secret a mucus which they wrap themselves in, thought to mask their scent from predators and keeping them safe whilst they sleep.

Parrot Fish Species

• Green humphead Parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum)

• Marbled parrotfish (Leptoscarus vaigiensis)

• Bicolor parrotfish (Cetoscarus bicolor)

• Filament-finned Parrotfish (Scarus altipinnis)

• Arabian Parrotfish (Scarus arabicus)

• Red-barred Parrotfish (Scarus caudofasciatus)

• Chameleon Parrotfish (Scarus chameleon)

• Midnight Parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus)

• Blue Parrotfish (Scarus coeruleus)

• Red Sea Parrotfish (Scarus collana)

• Azure Parrotfish (Scarus compressus)

• Yellow-barred Parrotfish (Scarus dimidiatus)

• Regal Parrotfish (Scarus dubius)

• Sicklefin Parrotfish (Scarus falcipinnis)

• Rusty Parrotfish (Scarus ferrugineus)

• Festive Parrotfish (Scarus festivus)

• Yellowfin Parrotfish (Scarus flavipectoralis)

• Forsten's Parrotfish (Scarus forsteni)

• Bridled Parrotfish (Scarus frenatus)

• Darktail Parrotfish (Scarus fuscocaudalis)

• Greenblotch parrotfish (Sparisoma atomarium)

• Redband parrotfish (Sparisoma aurofrenatum)

• Redtail parrotfish (Sparisoma chrysopterum)

• Mediterranean parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense)

• Bucktooth parrotfish (Sparisoma radians)

• Redfin parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne)

• Strigate parrotfish (Sparisoma strigatum)

• Stoplight Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)

• Purple-brown Parrotfish (Scarus fuscopurpureus)

• Blue-barred Parrotfish (Scarus ghobban)

• Globehead Parrotfish (Scarus globiceps)

• Rainbow Parrotfish (Scarus guacamaia)

• Guinean Parrotfish (Scarus hoefleri)

• Yellowtail Parrotfish (Scarus hypselopterus)

• Striped Parrotfish (Scarus iserti)

• Marquesan Parrotfish (Scarus koputea)

• Highfin Parrotfish (Scarus longipinnis)

• Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger)

• Dark-capped Parrotfish (Scarus oviceps)

• Knobsnout Parrotfish (Scarus ovifrons)

• Gulf Parrotfish (Scarus persicus)

• Singapore Parrotfish (Scarus prasiognathos)

• Common Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus)

• Quoy's Parrotfish (Scarus quoyi)

• Rivulated Parrotfish (Scarus rivulatus)

• Ember Parrotfish (Scarus rubroviolaceus)

• Eclipse Parrotfish (Scarus russelii)

• Fivesaddle Parrotfish (Scarus scaber)

• Yellowband Parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli)

• Greensnout Parrotfish (Scarus spinus)

• Princess Parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus)

• Tricolour Parrotfish (Scarus tricolor)

• Queen Parrotfish (Scarus vetula)

• Roundhead Parrotfish (Scarus viridifucatus)

• Red Parrotfish (Scarus xanthopleura)

• Dhofar Parrotfish (Scarus zufar)

Facts about Fish Species - How do you identify the sex of a Parrot Fish?
The males and females of many fish species have different colors or different shaped bodies. But there are also other fish species where there is no visible difference. Its sometimes tricky being an ichthyologist!

Facts about Fish Species - Why are Parrot Fish slimy?
Parrot Fish secrete a type of mucus, or slime, from their skin. This slime provides protection against parasites and infections and helps the Parrot Fish to move through the water faster. Some fish species also release toxins in their slime which ward off enemy attacks. Other fish species use their slime to feed their young.

Facts about Fish Species - Why do Parrot Fish have gills?
Gills enable the Parrot Fish to breathe. Gills consist of thin sheets of tissue containing blood vessels. As water passes over the gills oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream Carbon dioxide passes out into the water. The gills are protected by a large bony plate called an operculum. Some fish species however have lungs and breathe air.

Facts about Fish Species - Why do the Parrot Fish have fins?
A fin is an external appendage or "limb" of a fish. Fins are used for directing, stabilizing, or propelling the different fish species in water. Numbers of fins vary between fish species, but there are usually seven. Each of the fins on a fish are designed to perform a specific function:

• Dorsal fins - The dorsal fin is located on the backs of fishes. The Parrot Fish has Dorsal fins to lend stability in swimming.

• Ventral fins. The ventral fin is located on the pelvic area of fishes. The Parrot Fish has Ventral fins to lend stability in swimming.

• Caudal fins. The Caudal fin is located on the tail area of fishes. The Parrot Fish has Caudal fins to propel through the water.

• Pectoral fins. The Pectoral fin is located on the breast area of fishes. The Parrot Fish has Pectoral fins to for locomotion and side to side movement

Interesting Facts and Information about Parrot Fish