Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
The midnight parrotfish can take up to 16,000 bites a day as an adult, and 28,000 a day as a juvenile. [6] In addition to herbivory, evidence suggests that midnight parrotfish also consume sergeant major damselfish eggs. [7] Unlike other species of parrotfish that live in mangrove forests, the midnight parrotfish has not been shown to consume ...
At night, the fish sleeps in coral and wraps itself in a mucus cocoon. [3] The parrotfish secretes mucus from glands near its gills, a process that can take up to an hour. Scientists believe the mucus sleeping bags mask the fish's scent, protecting it from predators. [4]
Parrotfish are named for their dentition, [5] which is distinct from other fish, including other labrids.Their numerous teeth are arranged in a tightly packed mosaic on the external surface of their jaw bones, forming a parrot-like beak with which they rasp algae from coral and other rocky substrates [6] (which contributes to the process of bioerosion).
Much of the white sand on tropical beaches is former parrotfish feces. After the fish digest the algae and coral rock, it's excreted as sand Check out the extraordinary lion fish:
The juveniles and females in their initial phase form large groups that move long distances between their feeding grounds and the areas used for sleeping at night. They feed on benthic algae. This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite and the sex change occurs when the attain a total length of 35.1–47.2 centimetres (13.8–18.6 in).
The stoplight parrotfish inhabit shallow coral reefs not disturbed by humans in Florida, the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and Brazil. [4] They are only active during the day and spend most of their time foraging, swimming, or hovering. [4] [7] At night, they remain hidden under coral boulders. [4]
The regal parrotfish produces slimy secretions similar to those of some teleost fish. This slime is produced from goblet cells in the opercular region during the night, leading to the creation of cocoons around their bodies. Researchers have proposed that this is a defense mechanism against predators. [5]
The green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) is the largest species of parrotfish, growing to lengths of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) and weighing up to 75 kg (165 lb) [citation needed]. It is found on reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans , from the Red Sea in the west to Samoa in the east, and from the Yaeyama Islands in the north to the Great ...