Bridled parrotfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bridled parrotfish |
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The Bridled Parrotfish (scientific name: Scarus frenatus) is a colorful type of parrotfish. People also call it the six-banded parrotfish or vermiculate parrotfish.
What Does It Look Like?
The Bridled Parrotfish can grow up to 47 centimeters long. That's about the length of your forearm!
This fish is special because its colors and patterns change as it grows older.
- When it's young (called the "initial phase"), it's usually reddish or brown.
- It has six or seven dark stripes running across its body.
- Its fins are red.
As male fish get older (called the "terminal phase"), their back half and the bottom of their head become much lighter. Older males also have cool blue-green tail fins with a big, orange, crescent shape.
Where Do They Live?
You can find the Bridled Parrotfish in the Indo-Pacific region. This huge area stretches from the Red Sea all the way to the Line Islands and Ducie Island.
They live as far north as southern Japan. Their southernmost homes include Shark Bay in Western Australia, Lord Howe Island, and Rapa Iti in French Polynesia. However, you won't find them in the waters around Hawaii.
Habitat and Behavior
Bridled Parrotfish usually live in outer reefs that are exposed to the ocean. They can be found at depths from 1 to 25 meters (about 3 to 82 feet). Sometimes, they even swim in very shallow water.
Younger fish might live in calm lagoons. They hide among the broken coral and rocks of the reefs.
This type of parrotfish usually swims alone. But when it's time to eat, it might join groups of different fish species. They like to graze on algae that grows on the ocean floor.
