Parrotfish

The parrotfish utilizes its strong beak-like jaws to obtain its food from the coral reef. Parrot fishes are a group of about 90 species traditionally regarded as a family (Scaridae), but now often considered a subfamily (Scarinae) of the wrasses. They are very sociable during the day, however, when night falls the fish separate from the school and search for dwellings in the coral where they form a cocoon of mucus. The cocoon serves as protection from nocturnal predators. They are found in relatively shallow tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, displaying their largest species richness in the Indo-Pacific. They are found in coral reefs, rocky coasts, and seagrass beds, and play a significant role in bioerosion.

Quick stats about Parrotfish: 

• Parrotfish can often be noticed because they raise clouds of dust as they devour coral.
• Parrotfish rely on the sun to navigate.
• Divers swimming by reefs may hear parrotfish because of the noise they make while eating.
• At night the parrotfish school breaks up and each enters its own crevice to sleep.
• Although its main diet is algae and seaweed, the parrotfish has been known to literally eat the coral reef. 

Scientific classification of Parrotfish

Kingdom:         Animalia

Phylum:            Chordata

Superclass:       Osteichthyes

Class:   Actinopterygii

Order:  Perciformes

Suborder:         Labroidei

Family: Scaridae