Basket Parrot fish Art on Canvas in a Yellow Bijou Frame.

Parrotfishes are a group of about 90 different types of wrasses. They got their name because they have numerous teeth arranged in a tightly packed mosaic on the external surface of their jaw bones, forming a parrot-like beak with which they scrape algae from coral and other rocky substrates.  With about 95 species, the majority of the species live in the Indo-Pacific waters. They are found in coral reefs, rocky coasts, and seagrass beds.

Some parrotfish species, like the queen parrotfish, secrete a mucus cocoon, particularly at night.  Prior to going to sleep, some species extrude mucus from their mouths, forming a protective cocoon that envelops the fish, presumably hiding its scent from potential predators.

The development process for most parrotfish is complex and accompanied by changes in sex and color.  Most wrasses start out as females, who then change to males! The transition from initial to terminal coloration phases includes dramatic increases in 11-ketotestosterone levels while estrogen levels decline.

If you are an Ichthyologist (Fish Biologist) we are open to your suggestions about how you would improve this description.