PARROT FISH


Meaning of PARROT FISH in English

Any of about 80 species (family Scaridae) of slender, blunt-headed, deep-bodied fishes found on tropical reefs.

They are often brightly coloured and have large scales. The fused teeth form a "beak" used to scrape algae and the soft part of coral from reefs. Platelike teeth in the throat grind the ingested food and bits of coral. Some species grow to 4 ft (1.2 m) long and weigh 45 lb (20 kg). The Indo-Pacific surf, or rivulated, parrot fish ( Callyodon fasciatus ) grows to 18 in. (46 cm) or more. The queen parrot fish ( Scarus vetula ) is an Atlantic species.

Parrot fish ( Calotomus )

Douglas Faulkner

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.