Species Type:
Fishes
Common Name(s):
Rainbow parrotfish
Size:
On average, these fish reach 28 inches (70 centimeters) in length.
Diet:
Parrotfish feed on algae growing on corals and rocky surfaces in their environment.
Range & Habitat:
Rainbow parrotfish live in coral reef communities in the Gulf of Mexico and the western Atlantic Ocean.
Details:
Rainbow parrotfish may not display all the colors of the rainbow, but they have bright teal bodies and yellow, orange, and pink hues on their head, tail, and fins. Their beak-like mouths, formed by fused teeth, help them scrape algae off rocks and coral, keeping coral reefs healthy. The largest parrotfish species in the western Atlantic, they can grow up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) long.