A daytime grazer whose meals help turn the reef into sand.
- Local names
- Pa’ati ha’avare
About this species
Also called the palenose parrotfish, this fish spends much of its active day scraping food from the reef. It consumes algal growth and material associated with coral surfaces, including coral tissue and fragments. Processing that material contributes to the production of coral sand.
Male and female colour phases look noticeably different. At night, parrotfish rest in reef holes; some also surround themselves with a mucus covering that helps protect them from predators.
Photo credit: John Hoover
