Parrotfish

About the Parrotfish

They eat coral and excrete it as sand - a single parrotfish produces 90 kg of sand per year. Much of the white sand on tropical beaches is parrotfish poop. They can change sex from female to male as they age. Many species start life as females in a harem controlled by a dominant male. Their teeth are fused into beak-like plates that bite chunks off coral. They create a sleeping bag of mucus each night that masks their scent from predators. Over 80 species exist. They are essential for reef health by controlling algae growth. Some reach 1.3 meters.