Fun Parrot Fish Facts For Kids

Parrotfish, belonging to the family Scaridae consists of over 80 species. The most abundant of these species is observed in the Indo-Pacific region. Parrotfishes display a variety of features that sets them apart from other fishes.

This fish was given the name parrotfish due to its unique and characteristic teeth structure. The arrangement of their teeth differs from all other fishes. These fishes have 1,000 or more teeth which are arranged in a mosaic-like pattern on their jawbones. Hence, their mouth resembles a beak, like that of a parrot. They use this beak-like mouth to feed on coral, algae, and so on. They are also known for their color. Usually, males and females have different colors. The maller fishes can also look different compared to the adults.  In some parts of the world, parrotfish are considered to be a delicacy. These fishes are also an essential part of saving the coral reefs. This is because parrotfishes feed on the algae present on the reefs. This helps the reef in becoming cleaner and thriving under the ocean. Hence, it helps in protecting and sustaining the habitat it lives in. Additionally, these species also excrete out sand after feeding on dead coral and algae. The calcium-carbonate from these food materials is ground up in their gut and pooped out as sand. So, most of the sand present on beaches is from their excretion, as each fish is capable of producing 1,000 lb or 450 kg of sand, annually.

To learn more about these amazing fishes present in tropical reefs all around the world, continue reading! If you like this article, then check out pirahna fish and codfish.

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What type of animal is a Parrot Fish?

Parrotfish is a kind of fish usually found in a variety of colors. They are categorized into several genera and species.

What class of animal does a Parrot Fish belong to?

Parrotfishes belong to the class Actinopterygii. They belong to the order Labriforms and are a member of the Scaridae family.

How many Parrot Fish are there in the world?

These fishes are found abundantly throughout the world, with the major concentration of their population being in the Indo-Pacific region. So, their exact numbers are not known. However, some species like Scarus guacamaia or Rainbow parrotfish and Bolbometopon muricatum or Green Humphead parrotfish have a decreasing population.

Where does a Parrot Fish live?

Parrotfishes are found in all the oceans throughout the world. However, the most number of species are seen in the Indo-Pacific region, which constitutes the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and all the seas in between.

What is a Parrot Fish's habitat?

Parrotfishes live in oceans and are found abundantly. They are usually found in coral reefs. Their habitat has corals that build these reefs. Coral reefs are usually seen in oceans where there are sufficient sun and warmth. Such reefs are found at shallow depths, mostly. They are also kept in aquariums

Who do Parrot Fish live with?

Fishes of these species can be seen in groups underwater. They usually are seen feeding in large groups or schools.

How long does a Parrot Fish live?

Parrotfishes can survive for as long as seven years. However, the largest parrotfish, Bolbometopon muricatum lives up to 20 years of age.

How do they reproduce?

Parrotfishes are capable of spawning throughout the year. However, peak spawning is recorded to be during summer. They might migrate to the outer parts of their habitat, or reproduce within other definite areas. They show an external method of fertilization, like most other fishes. The eggs released by the female fishes float in the water. Subsequently, these eggs get attached to the reefs and remain there till hatching. Usually, following fertilization, the eggs take 25 hours to hatch. The adult fishes are not known to show any parental care.

What is their conservation status?

Since these species are found in a great number throughout the globe, most of them are listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. However, certain species have been showing declining populations due to loss of habitat. For example, the Rainbow parrotfish and Green Humphead parrotfish are marked as Near Threatened and Vulnerable, respectively, in the Red List. The population status of Yellow-tail parrotfish ( Scarus hyselopterus) is not known, but it has also been listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

What do Parrot Fish look like?

Parrotfishes are well-known for their characteristic beak-like jaw. Their body is covered with large scales and is bilaterally-symmetrical. They are seen in a wide variety of colors, which tends to change depending on which phase of their lives they are in. The younger fishes are usually dull gray, brown, or black in color. However, as they mature they become more colorful with the addition of red tones. Males are generally more brightly colored compared to the females around and can be pink, blue, green, or any other tone.

How cute are they?

Parrot fishes are seen in a variety of bright colors which make them very distinctive and cute-looking. But their parrot beak-like mouth can appear a bit odd.

How do they communicate?

Parrotfishes usually use visual methods to communicate. The male fishes in some species change or intensify their color when they have to defend their territory. Thus, they use visual signals to ward off invaders.

How big is a Parrot Fish?

The length of a parrotfish can measure about 4 ft (1.2 m). They appear an inch or two bigger than clownfishes.

How fast can a Parrot Fish swim?

Parrotfishes swim using their pectoral fins. They can attain a speed of about 1.56 - 2.07 mph (2.52 - 3.34 kmph). They are also capable of swimming at higher speeds, but cannot sustain that speed for more than 10 minutes.

How much does a Parrot Fish weigh?

Parrotfishes can grow big and weigh up to 45 lb or 20 kg.

What are their male and female names of the species?

Males and females belonging to this species are known as male parrotfish and female parrotfish.

What would you call a baby Parrot Fish?

A baby parrotfish is known as a larva.

Do humans eat them?

This fish is a sort of delicacy in many parts of the world. They are known to taste good and have a unique sweet flavor, due to their own diet of algae and coral. There are fisheries present for some of the larger species of parrotfish. In Polynesia, their meat was considered to be royal food and was only consumed by the kings.

Are they dangerous?

Most species of parrotfish are not dangerous. However, some species, like the blue parrotfish cause fish-poisoning sickness or ciguatera in humans. This disease can be fatal.

Would they make a good pet?

Most parrotfishes are not suitable to be kept as pets, due to their feeding habits. They constantly need algae to feed on and tend to destroy rock materials with their teeth. They also can grow very large, which can cause a problem. But some pet shops do sell juvenile parrotfishes which do not survive that long and hence, never grow too big.  They are also not aggressive in nature and can get along with other fishes.

Did you know...

Most of parrotfishes of different species are sequential hermaphrodites. This means they start out their lives as females in the initial phase, and then they can change to a male parrotfish, which is the terminal phase. This change is characterized by a change in their body color too. The marbled parrotfish is the only known species that do not change their sex. In some cases, the juveniles can alter the color of their body to mimic other species.

Can you eat parrotfish?

Parrotfish is edible and is eaten in many parts of the world. But some species can cause fish poisoning due to the accumulation of toxins in their body.

How do parrot fish protect themselves?

Parrotfishes have a unique way of protecting themselves. These species secrete mucous that envelop them like a cocoon at night, before going to sleep. This cocoon hides its scent from potential predators. It also acts as a warning for them if some animal disturbs the mucous membrane. Their skin is also covered with another layer of mucous, which provides protection against parasites and UV rays. It also helps in healing any damage.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish including mikfish, or skatefish.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Parrot fish coloring pages.