Parrotfish is the common name for a member of the large family Scaridae, colorful reef fishes of warm seas. Parrotfishes are named for their powerful cutting-edged beaks. With these they scrape from the surface of coral, algae, polyps, and other small plant and animal life. Although they are considered to be herbivores, parrotfish eat a wide variety of organisms that live on coral reefs. Some species, may include living corals in their diet. Their feeding activity is important for the production and distribution of coral sands in the reef.
