Parrotfish

coral reefs · ocean · herbivores · sand makers

Colorful coral munchers. Parrotfish are named for their hard, beak-like mouths that look like a parrot's beak. They use these powerful beaks to crunch on coral and algae all day long.

Sand factory workers. When parrotfish eat coral, they don't digest it like other fish do. Instead, the coral passes right through them and comes out as sand, which helps build and maintain sandy beaches around coral reefs.

Indo-Pacific champions. There are about 95 different species of parrotfish living around the world, and most of them live in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, making that region their favorite home.

Reef gardeners. Parrotfish are herbivores and corallivores, meaning they eat algae and corals to survive. By doing this, they actually help keep coral reefs healthy and balanced.

Wrasse family members. Scientists used to think parrotfish were their own special family, but DNA testing showed they're actually a special type of wrasse, which is a large family of colorful reef fish.