Striped Parrotfish

The Striped Parrotfish, in its terminal phase, has a dark blue to green body with pink or yellow lines on the tail. A pale stripe is visible just behind the pectoral fin, and a white stripe extends from the head to the middle of the body. Juveniles and individuals in their initial phase have three dark stripes running horizontally along a body that often has a yellow snout or tail. Their belly is white, and the tail is clear with no border.

This Parrotfish is commonly found in shallow water, swimming along the reef. It feeds during the day by scraping algae off dead coral and rocks. Juveniles and individuals in their initial phase are sometimes seen mixing with other Parrotfish species of a similar size. Parrotfish are protected on Bonaire and play an important ecological role by helping to control algae growth on reefs.