Parrotfish

Parrotfishes are among the larger fishes on the reef and easy to recognize as a family. The mouth have dental plates resembling a beak, hence the name. 

Parrotfishes eat algae from corals, and in the process do they scrap of limestone from the corals, contributing to the white sand that makes Maldivian beaches so famous. Snorkelers can easily hear the crunching sound when the Parrotfishes are feeding. 

Parrotfishes can be quite colorful. Some species are difficult to identify, because they change color pattern as they grow. Young individuals can be either male or female, but all females becomes males when they get older. My apology if I have made mistakes with the identification.

Parrotfishes can be 30 to 120 cm in length.