parrotfishes
Coral-crunching tropical swimmers
Parrotfishes are brightly colored tropical reef fish with fused teeth that form a beak-like structure, used to scrape algae from coral.
Their name comes from their parrot-like appearance—vivid blues, greens, and pinks, plus that distinctive mouth.
They play a major role in reef ecosystems, and much beach sand in tropical areas is actually ground-up coral from parrotfish digestion.
Teeth in fish gullet
Primitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- grazingFeeding on pasture
- coralMarine skeletal formation
- scrapingRubbing away material
- browsingCasual examination of options
detritus · seagrass · foraging · nibbling · substrate · biofilm
Altering one's biological gender
Underwater rock or coral formation
- calcium carbonateMineral in shells and marble
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- white sandLight-colored beach grains
lagoon · habitat · biodiversity · cleaning station · symbiosis · keystone species
Full of life, intensity
- iridescentShowing shifting spectral colors
- multicoloredHaving multiple hues
- brilliantIntensely bright or gifted
- vividIntensely clear and bright
turquoise · blue-green · pink · pigmentation
Surface swimming with breathing tube
- divingEntering water deliberately
- aquariumTank for keeping fish
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- overfishingUnsustainable marine harvest
Of hot, humid regions
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- Indo-PacificCombined ocean region
- CaribbeanTropical Atlantic region
- Red SeaAfrican-Arabian saltwater inlet
Great Barrier Reef · atoll · shallow waters · seagrass beds · mangrove · warm waters · marine
pharyngeal teeth
Teeth in fish gullet
algae
Primitive aquatic photosynthesizers
browsing · detritus · seagrass · foraging · nibbling · substrate · biofilm
sex change
Altering one's biological gender
reef
Underwater rock or coral formation
- calcium carbonateMineral in shells and marble
- sedimentationParticles settling in liquid
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
white sand · lagoon · habitat · biodiversity · cleaning station · symbiosis · keystone species
vibrant
Full of life, intensity
- iridescentShowing shifting spectral colors
- multicoloredHaving multiple hues
- brilliantIntensely bright or gifted
vivid · turquoise · blue-green · pink · pigmentation
snorkeling
Surface swimming with breathing tube
- divingEntering water deliberately
- aquariumTank for keeping fish
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
overfishing · edible · traditional fishing · endangered species
tropical
Of hot, humid regions
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- Indo-PacificCombined ocean region
- CaribbeanTropical Atlantic region
Red Sea · Great Barrier Reef · atoll · shallow waters · seagrass beds · mangrove · warm waters · marine
parrotfishesreef sharks
Tropical coastal cartilaginous fish
moray eels · barracudas · apex predators · piscivores · predatory fish