Parrotfish
Let's Learn About Parrotfish
Word of the Week
Mucus
Mucus is a slimy substance produced by many animals, often by small organs (called glands) in their skin.
Some parrotfish coat themselves in a mucus bubble when resting. Scientists think it makes it harder for predators to sense their smell. Human snot is also an example of mucus.
Fast Facts
Where do parrotfish live?
Parrotfish live in warm, shallow water in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.
They are usually found in coral reefs. They rely on coral for food and protection from predators.
What do parrotfish eat?
Most parrotfish are herbivores. They feed on algae.
Parrotfish also eat chunks of corals and rocks as they scrape off algae. The ground-up corals and rocks come out the other end as fine, white sand. Some parrotfish also eat bacteria and sponges.
What traits do parrotfish share?
Parrotfish are a family of fish. They have many traits in common, such as...
- Strong, fused teeth.
- Bright colors.
- Different colors and patterns between males, females, and juveniles.
- The ability to change from female to male during their life.
How many parrotfish are there?
There are 95 species of parrotfish.
While some parrotfish are very common on coral reefs, several species are endangered. They are threatened by habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution.
Species Spotlight
Queen Parrotfish
Scarus vetula
Queen parrotfish are one of the brightest fish on the coral reef. They live in warm, shallow water in the Caribbean Sea. Like other parrotfish, they have strong teeth that help them scrape algae off of rocks and corals. They also eat sponges. Scientists have observed queen parrotfish helping a different fish get its food, as well.
Trumpetfish are long, skinny fish that eat shrimp and small fish. Some trumpetfish swim through the reef alongside queen parrotfish. Scientists hypothesize that the trumpetfish hide behind parrotfish to approach prey without being seen. Shrimp and small fish do not swim away as they approach because queen parrotfish are not predators. Once close enough, the trumpetfish swims out and grabs the prey.
While the parrotfish may not be a predator, it does have predators. Sharks, groupers, and eels search the coral reef at night for prey. Queen parrotfish hide in the cracks in the reef, but they have an extra special way of staying hidden - mucus!
Queen parrotfish produce slimy mucus from glands near their gills. They rest inside their mucus bubble to hide their smell from predators. It also keeps pests away. While sleeping in what is similar to a snot bubble might not sound so fun, it does keep queen parrotfish safe.
Conservation Corner
Protecting the Reef Protectors
Coral reefs are home to thousands of animal species. Fish, crabs, and even whales call coral reefs home at some point during their lives. Parrotfish are one of the most important animals in the reef because they help the corals survive.
Corals are classified as animals, but they rely on tiny algae called zooxanthellae for energy. Algae are like plants except they usually live in water. Like plants, algae get their energy from the sun using photosynthesis. Corals give zooxanthellae a home and, in return, take some of the energy for themselves.
Different algae often grow on top of corals, which blocks sunlight. Zooxanthellae cannot produce energy when too many algae grow, making it hard for corals to survive. This is where parrotfish come in. Parrotfish eat algae. They use strong teeth to scrape algae off of a coral's surface. The algae-free sections can now get energy from the sun and continue to grow.
Large, healthy parrotfish populations keep coral reefs healthy and free of algae. You can protect parrotfish (and coral reefs!) by not buying them for fish tanks and not eating them when you visit coral reef ecosystems.
Parrotfish Challenge
Learn More!
Glossary
Adaptation
The process by which a species becomes more fit for its environment over the course of several generations. It is a result of natural selection.
Algae
A group of plant-like organisms typically found in water.
Coral
Animals related to jellyfish and sea anemones comprised of tiny polyps working together to support the colony.
Coral Reef
An ocean habitat made of many individual corals typically found in warm, shallow waters.
Dominant
Used to describe the biggest, strongest, most fit individual in a group.
Fish
A group of ectothermic (cold-blooded) animals that live primarily or entirely in water, have fins instead of limbs, and breathe using gills.
Fuse
Join together.
Gills
The respiratory organ that allows fish, amphibians in their larval phase, and crustaceans to absorb oxygen molecules from water.
Herbivore
An animal that eats mostly plants.
Juvenile
Young animal that has not reached adulthood.
Mucus
A slimy substance produced by animals (often by a membrane on their skin).
Overfishing
Collecting fish from the ocean faster than they can reproduce.
Photosynthesis
The process used by plants and algae to change energy from the sun into sugar (energy) for the organism.
Predator
An animal that hunts other animals for food.
Prey
An animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal.
Species
A closely related group of animals with similar characteristics that are capable of reproducing (example: tigers).
Tropical
A region near the equator that has warm temperatures year round.
Zooxanthellae
Microscopic algae found in some Cnidarians (corals, jellyfish, etc.). They provide the animal with energy through photosynthesis.
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