Blue Parrotfish
Blue Parrotfish Introduction
The Blue Parrotfish is a colorful aquatic animal that lives in coral, in a symbiotic relationship with its ecosystem. The coral provides it with protection, and the parrot fish consumes the coral’s excess algae. They are uniformly blue with a yellow spot on their heads that fades as they age. They average 30 to 75 centimetres (12 to 30 in) in length with a maximum length of 1.2 metres (3 ft 11 in). They develop a large “beak” like other parrotfish that is used for scraping algae and small organisms from rocks. No other species has this uniform blue color as adults. They weigh about 9.1 kilograms (20 lb). In summer, blue parrotfish gather in spawning groups. Sexual interaction occurs and the females deposit their eggs into the water column after which they sink to the seabed. The eggs hatch after about twenty-five hours. The habitat of blue parrotfish includes coral reefs in tropical waters at depths of 10 to 80 feet. They are found across the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, as far north as Maryland, USA, and as far south as northern South America. However, they do not live in the Gulf of Mexico. They are native to Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Haiti, among other locations.
Keywords to learn
Algae: a simple, non-flowering, and typically aquatic plant of a large group that includes the seaweeds and many single-celled forms. Algae contain chlorophyll but lack true stems, roots, leaves, and vascular tissue
About Me
Hey Kids, my name is Beckett the Blue Parrottfish and I am very happy to meet you. Learn more about me and my species https://www.kids.nationalgeographic.com
Key Data
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Order:Perciformes.
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Lifespan:Up to 7 years.
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Class:Actinopterygii.
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Scientific name:Scarus Coeruleus.
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Mass:Up to 20 pounds.
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Length:11 to 29 inches.
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Region Found:Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Haiti, among other locations.
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Population Status:least concern.
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Current population trend:Unknown.
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Diet:Omnivorous.
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Sexual maturity:2-4 years.
As you have learned, the Blue Parrotfish is a wonderful looking and very beautifully ‘blue’ This fish is amazing looking, however because it is so colorful and stands out so much, it opens itself up for predators, because of how easily noticeable it is.
Now that you know more about the Blue Parrotfish spider by learning the key data above, be sure to also to check out the fun facts. When you are finished learning the facts, try answering the questions in the Q&A corner on the bottom right side of the page.
Download questions about the Blue Parrotfish here: Blue Parrotfish (answers are on this page)
Blue Parrotfish Fun Facts for Kids
- # 1. Blue Parrotfish are daytime creatures and seek shelter during the night. They do so by secreting a mucous that masks their scent, tastes bitter, and makes them harder to find. The mucous has holes on each end to allow water to flow over the fish as it sleeps.
- # 2. The male is very aggressive, chasing intruders as far as 20 feet away from the group. If the male dies, one of the females will undergo a sex change and become an aggressive, brightly colored male.
- # 3. Females are oviparous, meaning they produce eggs that hatch in the water. During this time, they gather into large spawning groups and males and females form pairs. After they mate, the female releases the fertilized eggs into the water column.
- # 4. After hatching, these larvae begin feeding 3 days later. They develop quickly and have to survive on their own from birth. Juveniles feed on turtle grass beds and eat small plants and organisms.
- # 5. Bermuda has closed fishing of parrotfish for conservation, but they are still fished in other regions of the Caribbean. They are also impacted by human destruction of coral reefs by bleaching or death. Additionally, Blue Parrotfish are often eaten in some countries, but they can cause fish poisoning that can be deadly.
Q&A Corner
- # 1. Where does the Blue Parrotfish get its name from?
- # 2. Name 3 places that the Blue Parrotfish is native to?
- # 3. What is the population status of the Blue Parrotfish?
- # 4. What is the diet of the Blue Parrotfish?
- # 5. What will the female have to do if the male Blue Parrotfish dies?
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