Parrotfish

Parrotfish are tropical marine fishes in the family Scaridae, named for fused beaklike teeth used to scrape algae from reef surfaces.

Pharyngeal jaws: A second set of throat jaws that processes food after it passes through the mouth. These jaws grind material scraped from reef surfaces, including fragments swallowed with algae.
Coral reef resilience: The capacity of a coral reef to absorb disturbance and recover while maintaining ecological functions. Parrotfish grazing can limit algal growth that otherwise impedes coral recovery.
Stoplight parrotfish: A Caribbean parrotfish whose adults are green with a prominent orange-yellow patch near the tail. This abundant species is a familiar example of reef grazing in the Caribbean.
Surgeonfish: A family of reef fishes with sharp, scalpel-like spines near the tail and many algal grazers. Surgeonfish graze algae without the fused beaklike teeth characteristic of parrotfish.
Coral–algal phase shift: A reef-state change in which coral-dominated habitat becomes dominated by algae. Scientists examine whether parrotfish grazing can prevent or reverse this transition.
Bioerosion: The breakdown of hard surfaces by the activities of living organisms. Parrotfish erode reef limestone while biting and digesting material.
Coral reef conservation: The protection and restoration of coral reef ecosystems and their biodiversity. Protecting parrotfish is one tool for maintaining grazing and reef processes.
Bumphead parrotfish: The largest living parrotfish, native to Indo-Pacific coral reefs. Its large bites can remove substantial amounts of reef carbonate.
Rabbitfish: A family of Indo-Pacific fishes that includes species feeding heavily on algae. Rabbitfish are major reef herbivores but have a different body form and feeding anatomy.
Reef carbonate budget: The balance between carbonate production and erosion that determines whether a reef framework grows or declines. Parrotfish are major bioeroders, but their net effect depends on reef conditions and species.

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WrasseCompared with: Parrotfishes are close relatives often included within Labridae, but their feeding apparatus differs conspicuously.