Parrotfish (Scaridae)
These are a group of marine fishes that can be found in shallow tropical and subtropical oceans all across the world. Mostly the species is found in abundance in the Indo Pacific area. You can see them in coral reefs, rocky coasts and seagrass beds. This can also play a very important role in stopping bioerosion.
They are called by this name because of their dentition. Their teeth are placed feet which gives them a parrot-like appearance. The size of the parrot fish varies and can range from anywhere between 30-50 cm. But on certain occasions, you can see them crossing a length of 1 metre as well. The smallest species is the blue lip parrot fish which has a length of just 13 cm.
Parrotfish are mostly herbivorous and eat only algae. Apart from that, they may also feed upon bacteria, detritus and invertebrates. Mostly in the Indopacific region, you would find commercial fisheries dedicated to nurturing them. By protecting the parrot fish we also ensure that Caribbean corals do not outgrow. As per a new study, the parrotfish is extremely important for the health of the Great Barrier Reef as it cleans inshore coral reefs.
