Parrotfish Species & Facts

The Most Beautiful Parrotfish Species and Amazing Facts About Them

Parrotfish are a family of fish known for their bright colors and fused teeth.

They are arguably the most important fish in the Caribbean coral reefs as they keep the reef clean.

These saltwater fish get their name due to their beak like jaws, and beautiful bright colors, much like the parrot.

In this article we’ll take a look at some of the most popular species of parrotfish, the roles these fish play in the ocean, parrotfish poop and much more.

Parrotfish are a group of marine fish which typically live in the shallow waters of tropical oceans – however some species do live in sub-tropical oceans.

They belong to the Scaridae family and there are currently around 80 identified species.

You will usually find them in coral reefs, seagrass beds, and rocky coasts. They are well known to divers for a few reasons:

1. Their incredible coloration.

2. Loud crunching noises whilst they eat.

Another two reasons these fish are so integral to the ocean:

-They help maintain coral reefs by eating the algae which grows all over them.

-They are sand making machines (more on this shortly).