Parrotfish Beak

Parrotfish roam the reef gnawing and gouging at the hard calcium carbonate structure corals produce. They do this to get at the algae that covers most reefs. Algal growth has increased since the late 70's all over the Caribbean choking and reducing coral cover from 70% down to less than 10% in some dire cases. Since the mass die off of a spiny urchin due to unknown causes which also fed on algae, the parrotfish has been "cutting the grass" alone. This shot shows the business end of the fish.