Description
Humphead parrot fish are the largest species of parrotfish growing to lengths of 1.3 metres and weighing up to 46 kilograms. The species is slow growing and live up to 40 years, with delayed reproduction rates. This species is "sociable" and usually found in small masses, but group size can get quite large, going 75 onward, on seaward and clear outer lagoon reefs.
Unlike wrasse, it has a vertical head, and unlike other parrot fish, it is covered with scales except for the leading edge of the head which is often light green to pink.One of the most distinctive things about parrot fish is their parrot like beak in which they get their name from.Their beak is used for one sole purpose and that is two crunch up the coral and rock so they can devour the algae growing on them.
Another feature, which is not so noticeable but the the parrot fish uses its pectoral fins like a parrot uses its wings.You can't really differentiate one parrot fish species from another parrot fish species, because of their ability to change their colour depending on their sex and health, but with the humphead parrot fish, size and the shape of the head are a dead give away.
Where Are They Found?
Parrot fish range from Tropical Coral Reefs and Lagoons in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Red Sea in the west to Samoa in the east,and from the Yaeyama Islands in the north to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia in the south. Roughly 90 species are found in coral reefs, rocky coasts and seagrass beds. The main place you will see Humphead parrot fish hanging around is lagoon reefs and biomes, because they feed on the coral as they pass through that area.
Humphead Parrot Fish
Breeding
Like many other reef fish, the parrotfish changes sex throughout it's lifecycle. When they reach sexual maturity parrot fish lay eggs, however, as they grow older, they develop into males. The transformation is marked and obvious by a colorized transformation in which the light female turns into a dark male. A second physical feature which singles out some species is that the male develops a large bulging forehead. The reason for the uprupt sex change is that many of the fish die young. Therefore, when many females release their eggs, there are few males to fertilize them. The eggs are then carried off, whether they were fertilized or not, away from the reef into the sea.