Parrotfish and wrasses

Parrotfish are found in relatively shallow tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide. There are about 95 species, most found in the Indo-Pacific. Over twenty species are found in the Maldives. Their teeth are arranged in a densely-packed mosaic on the external surface of their jaw bones, forming a parrot-like beak with which they rasp algae from coral and rocky substrates. Some parrotfish excrete a mucus coccoon that they sleep in.

Ember parrotfish (female), Scarus rubroviolaceus

Ember parrotfish (male), Scarus rubroviolaceus. The second fish is sleeping in a coccoon.

Five-saddle parrotfish (female), Scarus scaber

Sheephead parrotfish (steephead parrotfish) (male), Chlorurus strongylocephalus

Dusky parrotfish (male), Scarus niger

Bluebarred parrotfish, Scarus ghobban

Blacktip parrotfish (pink-margined parrotfish), Chlorurus capistratoides

Shabby parrotfish (female), Chlorurus sordidus

Wrasses and hogfish are a large family (Labridae) of marine fish with over 600 species in 82 genera. Over sixty species are found in the Maldives. They feed on small invertebrates.

Moon wrasse, Thalassoma lunare(adult left, juveniles right)