Parrotfish

Parrotfish (Scaridae)

Spectacled Parrotfish spectacled parrotfish male2.jpg (73784 bytes) Parrotfish are generally brightly colored and quickly identified by their beaks, which are derived from a fusion of teeth. They share with their ancestor wrasse family the variations of color that distinguish between juveniles and adults as well as between males and females. Parrotfish are also similarly capable of sex reversal and males that participate in this process usually change from the typical drab gray and reddish brown colors that distinguish females, to gaudy male patterns of mostly green or blue-green colors. Generally herbivorous, some species like the Scarus perspicillatus prey on live coral. While grazing on benthic algae, parrotfish ingest a stareye parrotfish male.jpg (90224 bytes) substantial amount of substratum and the resulting digestive process produces a large amount of sediment. Interestingly, they are the fish that contributes more than any other, to sand production. During the night hours, the inactive parrotfish form a mucus cocoon that protects their sleep and then disintegrates with the next day’s activity. There are 7 parrotfish species found in Hawaii, all considered shallow-water. The Hawaiian name for the family is uhu. From personal experience, a fresh, Chinese-steamed uhu is nokaoi.