Parrotfish (Scaridae) an important herbivore in the coral reef ecosystem, for sale in Kudat fish market, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Close-up view of a three color parrotfish (Scarus tricolor), coming in for a bite of hard coral, Fiji, South Pacific, Pacific

A Bleeker's parrotfish (Chlorurus bleekeri), surrounded by a mucus bubble it secretes for protection, Fiji, South Pacific, Pacific

Redlip Parrotfish, Scarus rubroviolaceus, North Male Atoll, Maldives

Juvenile Bicolor Parrotfish, Cetoscarus bicolor, Ambon, Moluccas, Indonesia

Indian steephead parrotfish (Scarus strongycephalus), beak open feeding, Queensland, Australia, Pacific

Shoal of Bumphead Parrotfish, Bolbometopon muricatum, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Blue-barred Parrotfish at Fang Ming Wreck, Scarus ghobban, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Blue-barred Parrotfish at Fang Ming Wreck, Scarus ghobban, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Striped parrotfish Initiale Phase, Scarus croicensis, Caribbean Sea, Dominica

Blue-barred Parrotfish at Fang Ming Wreck, Scarus ghobban, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Bumphead Parrotfish defecating, Bolbometopon muricatum, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia

Bicolor Parrotfish, Scarus rubroviolaceus, Cabo Marshall, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

Bicolor Parrotfish, Scarus rubroviolaceus, Wolf Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

Parrotfish (Scarus sp.), sleeping between Acropora coral plates, Rongelap, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Pacific

Parrotfish, Scarus sp., sleeping between Acropora coral plates, Rongelap, Marshall Islands, Micronesia

Green humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) sleeps at night in shelter, Great Barrier Reef, Unesco World Heritage, Pacific, Australia, Oceania

Detail of tail fin, parrot fish (Scarus), Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, UNESCO World Heritage, Australia, Oceania

Scales of Parrotfish (Scaridae), green, red, Red Sea, Aqaba, Jordan, Asia

Detail of dorsal fin, parrot fish (Scarus), Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, UNESCO World Heritage, Australia, Oceania

Bullethead parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus), Marsa Shona reef dive site, Egypt, Red Sea, Africa

Indian humphead parrotfish (Chlorurus strongylocephalus), Indian Ocean, Bali, Indonesia, Asia

This female Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus spilurus) turned to reveal its fused teeth which are used to scrape algae from coral heads. It was photographed while scuba diving the Kona coast, the Big Island, Hawaii; Island of Hawaii, Hawaii, United States of America

Terminal male Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlororus sordidus) photographed while scuba diving the Kona Coast, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii, United States of America

Bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) are the largest species in this family and can reach 5 feet in length and over 160 pounds, Yap, Micronesia

A close look at night of Chameleon Parrotfish (Scarus chameleon) sleeping in a mucus bubble that is secreted from large glands in the gill cavity and protects them from parasites, Fiji

Stoplight parrotfish nibbles algae from the substrate of a reef in the Florida Keys.

Coralfishes on Coral Reef, North Ari Atoll, Maldives

Bumphead Parrotfish, Bolbometopon muricatum, Blue Corner, Micronesia, Palau

Eye of a common parrot fish (Scarus psittacus) sleeping at night on a Sudanese reef in the Red Sea.

Flipper of a parrot fish (Scarus sp) sleeping at night on a Sudanese reef in the Red Sea.