Green Humphead Parrotfish
The Green Humphead Parrotfish / Giant Parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) is a large reef fish and the largest species of Parrotfish. They live around the Indo-Pacific region & The Red Sea, at depths from very shallow to 40 metres. Weighing as much as 70 kg., they are the largest fish to have hard corals as their main diet. They often swim in medium-size groups.
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Green Humphead Parrotfish Bolbometopon muricatum
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| Scientific Rank | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: |
Chordata (Chordates)
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| Class: |
Actinopterygii
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| Order: | Perciformes (Perch-Like Fish) |
| Family: | Scaridae (Scaridae) |
| Genus: | Bolbometopon (Bolbometopon) |
| Species: | Bolbometopon muricatum |
| Size | |
| Average Size: | 1.2 metres |
This species is also known as the Bumphead Parrotfish, Giant Parrotfish, Buffalo Parrotfish, and Double-Headed Parrotfish. It's found all over the Indo-Pacific region, sometimes alone but often in groups. This has caused them to be overfished, not helped by the fact that they mature slowly and breed in small numbers. They can live until 40 years old, growing to more than one metre in length and 70 kilograms in weight.
It's the only species in its genus (Bolbometopon), and the largest herbivorous reef fish. Males tend to have more defined features than females do. During their lifetime they change colour very gradually from greyish brown to greenish blue. Its fused teeth work as a beak that can break hard corals, which make up for most of the fish's diet.
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