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© FRANCOIS LIBERT
Our oceans are home to a variety of strange creatures, with parrotfish being one of the most striking fish in the ocean for its brilliant colors. Let's take a closer look at this fascinating fish
The parrotfish belongs to the family Scaridae and is a unique group of reef fish, which mainly inhabit coral reefs or rocky reefs, feeding on invertebrates such as corals, shellfish, sea urchins and algae.
The body of the parrotfish is oblong-oval in shape, and the surface of the body is covered with large round scales, with a brilliant color like coral. There are about 80 known species of parrotfish, some of which can grow up to 4 feet long in adulthood.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="6" > parrotfish is named for its brilliant colors and a mouth shape similar to that of a parrot</h1>
The name "parrotfish" derives from its parrot-like mouth shape and brilliant body color. The texture of their tooth plates is very hard, and there are bumpy protrusions on the surface, which is a good tool for them to nibble on the body of food.
Parrotfish feed mainly on corals and algae that cover the reef, and their tough beak allows them to easily nibble on their favorite foods.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="28" > parrotfish have a mouth full of strong teeth</h1>
The teeth of parrotfish may not be particularly full at first glance, but they are the strongest chewers in the world.
The teeth of parrotfish are made up of fluoroapatite, one of the strongest biological minerals in the world, which has greater hardness than silver or gold and can withstand a lot of stress. According to the Smithsonian Institution, this pressure is roughly equivalent to the weight of more than 80 elephants.
Parrotfish have many such strong little teeth in their mouths. It is reported that a parrotfish has about 15 rows of 1,000 teeth in its mouth, and its upper and lower teeth have healed into a row of tooth plates, forming their iconic beak like a parrot, which they use to nibble on corals.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="29" > parrotfish excrete white sand</h1>
Parrotfish eat a lot of coral every day, and they produce a lot of feces as a result. The parrotfish nibbles and crushes the coral, and the digestive system absorbs the nutrients and excretes the indigestible calcium particles that are important components of the white sand beach. In a way, parrotfish use their droppings to build stunning white sand beaches. Scientists estimate that a large parrotfish can expel hundreds of pounds of sand a year, and some may even reach 1,000 pounds.
Parrotfish feces play an important role in maintaining healthy reef habitats, not only providing adequate nutrients for the growth of new corals, but also inhibiting algae growth.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="30" > parrotfish sleeping in mucus cocoons</h1>
Some parrotfish secrete mucus to form a cocoon before going to bed, wrap themselves up, and then fall asleep with peace of mind. Don't worry, though... These unusual "pajamas" do have a purpose.
The researchers note that this behavior may be a protective mechanism, with mucus cocoons protecting them from parasites, while also hiding their odor from being found by predators.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="31" > the phenomenon of sex transition in parrotfish</h1>
The appearance of the parrotfish is particularly gorgeous and very eye-catching. For some parrotfish, the color of their appearance changes with the change of gender. Of course, the parrotfish isn't the only creature in the ocean that can transform sex. Parrotfish belong to the female pre-mature hermaphrodite ( protogynous hermaphrodite ) , i.e. some parrotfish are initially female , and later as they age , their body size increases and their sex changes to male.
You may wonder: What does this have to do with their color? When the parrotfish is gender-shifting, hormones trigger a change in the color of its appearance, which causes the surface of the parrotfish swimming in the ocean today to take on an iridescent color.
After reading the above content, do you think the parrotfish is more charming?
What's more, the presence of parrotfish helps us to further understand the diversity of life in the ocean. Parrotfish, as well as many other marine life, rely on us to protect the fragile ecosystems they call home. Protecting the oceans is urgent.