Parrotfish are a group of fishes that first appeared approximately 45 million years ago, during the Eocene. Living species inhabit coral reefs, rocky coasts and seagrass meadows.
Parrotfish are named for their teeth, which are different from those of other fish. They have numerous teeth, distributed in a compact mosaic on the external surface of their jaws, thus forming a parrot-like "beak", with which they scrape algae from corals or other rocky surfaces. This action contributes to the process of bioerosion.
Living parrotfish vary in size by species, ranging from 13 cm to 1.5 metres in length. Most species measure approximately 30–50 cm.
Most parrotfish species are herbivorous and feed mainly on algae growing on rock surfaces. They may also consume small invertebrates, bacteria and detritus. Some larger species also feed on living coral polyps.
