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| Stoplight parrotfish in the terminal phase (male) |
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| Stoplight parrotfish in the intermediate phase (female) |
Everyone loves stoplight parrotfish
because they are one of the most beautiful fish on the coral reef. Here
are 5 less known facts that will make them even more intriguing to you…
1. Some stoplight parrotfish are
transexuals. Stoplight parrotfish are all born as females, and a select
few change into males later in life.
2. Stoplight parrotfish are musicians.
When you hear that funny crackling sound underwater when you are
snorkeling, you are actually hearing their bony teeth plates grinding
coral to extract bits of algae. Sound travels 40 times faster in water,
so their crunching sounds combine into a musical ensemble.
3. Stoplight parrotfish are responsible
for making much of the sand on the ocean floor and on our beaches. After
they digest the living matter from the corals they eat, the limestone
from the hard coral skeletons passes through their systems and, viola!
They poop out sand!
4. Stoplight parrotfish completely
change their colors when they change genders from female to male. They
go from a mottled red, black, and white pattern to an emerald green body
with yellow and pink highlights.
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| Red, black, and white mottled color (female) |
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| Emerald green with yellow and pink highlights (male) |
5. Stoplight parrotfish sleep inside of a
special mucus bubble that they secrete. This mucus bubble protects
them from predators at night.
Aren’t Stoplight parrotfish awesome! Keep following us to learn more about our oceans’ amazing creatures!
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