Antarctica
Endangered Animals
The Rainbow Parrot Fish
How deep?
The Rainbow Parrot Fish swims as deep as 25 feet. (ADW)
Where?
It lives in the Gulf of Mexico to Venezuela. (ADW)
Feeds on...?
The Rainbow Parrot fish feeds on dead coral covered with algae. (ADW)
Rainbow Parrot fish, Roatan Honduras.
Description
The Rainbow Parrot Fish has a dark green body, orange fins, and green strips throughout their whole body. (ADW) The fish has scales, too. However, the Rainbow Parrot Fish has an unusual characteristic. It has a beak-like mouth. The beak is used to scrape algae off of coral. Males can grow up to 3.94 feet long, or 120 centimeters.
The fish is also very social with other fish, and travels in groups with up to 40 other fish. Together, they swim over reefs. (Cbdiving)
Food Chain
The fish lives in tropical water, feeding on sea grasses and dead coral. The dead coral is covered with algae, and the fish turns it into fine paste. Although it is not a predator because it is a herbivore, it is prey for mainly humans and sharks. Sharks eat the fish, but humans use it for decoration- it is NOT consumed. (ADW)
Habitat
The Rainbow Parrot Fish can be located at the gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Caribbean to Venezuela, and the Western Atlantic. They swim in tropical waters, as deep as 25 feet, to shallow waters. At night though, the fish hides in crevices or in a cave on a reef. (ADW)
Adaptation
The Rainbow Parrot Fish has gained the ability to make a cocoon out of mucus. It is secreted in 30 minutes, protecting it from predators. It's filmy and transparent. Parrot Fish can switch genders. When females change genders, their colors change as well. They can also change to the color of their surroundings, like a chameleon. (NatGeo)
Reasons for Endangerment and How it is being Protected
People have been catching the fish, and disturbing their habitats. However, the Rainbow Parrot Fish is not consumed, only used as decoration. Many reefs have become reserves (EE) In Bermuda, all parrot fish are protected by Fisheries. (IUCN)