Ember Parrotfish

Family: Parrotfishes (Scaridae)
Size: Up to 70 cm (28 in) | Common: 45 cm
Depth: 1 – 35m (3 – 115ft)

Distribution: Widespread Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific (Gulf of California to Ecuador, including the Galapagos and Malpelo).

Identification: A large, robust parrotfish with two drastically different color phases.

• Initial Phase / Female (Pictured): They feature a striking, high-contrast reticulated (checkerboard) pattern on their body—pale scales heavily outlined in dark grey or black. The face, chin, and chest are a vivid crimson red, which becomes especially prominent at night or when resting.
• Terminal Phase (Male): They look like an entirely different species! The mature males are a vibrant blue-green with a pinkish-orange stripe running along their sides, and they often develop a steep, blunt profile on their forehead.

Behavior: A tireless reef cleaner by day, a heavy sleeper by night.

• Diet: Using their fused, beak-like teeth, they relentlessly scrape algae from dead coral and rocks during the day, aiding in bioerosion and producing fine coral sand as waste.
• Nighttime Habits: When the sun goes down, they retreat deep into rocky crevices or under ledges to sleep. Like many parrotfishes, they can secrete a clear mucous cocoon around their bodies at night, which masks their scent from predators like moray eels.