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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).
The princess parrotfish (Scarus taeniopterus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish, in the family Scaridae. [2] It is typically 20 to 25 centimetres (7.9 to 9.8 in) long, found in the Caribbean, South Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. [3]
S. guacamaia is among the largest members of its family, and the largest in the Atlantic, reaching 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in length, 20 kg in weight and a maximum age of 16 years.
The green humphead parrotfish, is sexually monochromatic, i.e. there is no initial or terminal phase in the life cycle of the adults. [4] The fish spawn pelagically near the outer reef slope or near promontories, gutters, or channel mouths during a lunar cycle, usually spawning just prior to the new moon. [5]
The midnight parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus) is a species of parrotfish that inhabits coral reefs mainly in the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Florida.. The typical size is between 30 and 60 cm, but it can grow to almost 1 m.
It is a diurnal fish, but spawning is around dawn or dusk and can occur in pairs or groups. [11] [16] The pelagic eggs hatch into free-swimming larvae. The pelagic stage for the eggs and larvae is 50–60 days in Sparisoma parrotfish, after which they settle on rocky reefs and among seagrass. [17]
All parrot fishes feed on coral, but the corallivory within the parrot fishes may depend on the local environment and the species of coral present. An experiment by Bellwood and Choat in 1990 showed that Cetoscarus ocellatus take 10% fewer bites of live coral in the Great Barrier reef compared to other parrot fishes. [7]
The distinctive narrow dental plates are fused into a parrot-like beak and are covered in numerous small teeth. [2] When its mouth is closed the upper jaw teeth are enclosed by the lower jaw. [ 3 ] This species can attain a maximum total length of 35 cm (14 in).