Parrotfish and the Beach

I remember the first time I snorkeled almost 30 years ago at Trunk Bay on the Island of Saint John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Of all the beautiful and colorful fish living on the coral reefs, no species impressed me more than the parrotfish. Its pastel shades of pinks, blues and greens seemed more fitting in an Easter basket than in an underwater habitat.

While researching the identity of the several parrotfish I've since photographed on snorkeling trips in the Caribbean, in the Sea of Cortez and off Maui, I've discovered some fascinating facts about this group of fish that comprises almost a hundred unique species. Most interestingly is they're not named after the parrot because of the vibrant colors they share with those tropical birds. Rather it's because of their beak-like set of teeth.

The parrotfish's many teeth are tightly packed giving the appearance of a single, solid bill and allowing them to scrape algae from coral and rocks for consumption. Often ingesting pieces of the hardened coral while eating, they eventually pass them through their digestive tracts as tiny grains of sand. As a result a fish that many travelers will never see contributes to the creation of the sandy beaches these tourists are so eager to visit.