Parrotfish are a subfamily of wrasses, marine fish known for their bright colors and diversity, and can be found on coral reefs, rocky coasts, and seagrass beds. There are about 90 species of parrotfish named because of their numerous teeth that are tightly packed so their mouth resembles a parrot's beak. They use these teeth to get algae off coral and other underwater rocky surfaces. Some species actually eat coral polyps and while the goal with other species is to eat the algae which helps keep it from taking over the coral, they destroy some coral in the process. The parrotfish uses special teeth in the arch of their throat to grind up the coral and rock they inadvertently ingest and excrete it as sand. So even though parrotfish contribute to bioerosion, they also help create the fine white sand found in many Caribbean and Indo-Pacific islands as well as creating the islands themselves by producing 200 pounds of sand a year. Another unusual trait is that some parrotfish create a mucus cocoon which may help disguise its scent from would-be predators. Parrotfish vary in size from one to over four feet long and are found in shallow tropical or subtropical waters around the world. Other oddities - most parrotfish start as females (initial phase) and then become males (terminal phase) and their color changes as well. Juveniles usually are differently colored than the adults and some can change their color to mimic other species. Here are some pictures of these unusual fish.
Female stoplight parrotfish Source:
Wikipedia
Male stoplight parrotfish Source: Wikipedia
Female Mediterranean parrotfish Source:
Wikipedia
Juvenile bicolor parrotfish Source: Wikipedia
These strange-looking fish help create entirely new ecosystems.
To see a video,
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