PARROT FISH

In addition to individual bag limits for each coral reef fin fish species listed, they all have a combined bag limit of 20. Please refer to the Recreational fishing rules and regulations for Queensland: A brief guide for more information. For a complete list of coral reef species access the Fisheries (Coral Reef Fin Fish) Management Plan 2003 at www.legislation.qld.gov.au

5 per specie's aloud | 25 minimum unless stated otherwise

PARROT FISH

Parrot fish are common to all tropical and subtropical sea,s, but are especially abundant in the indo-pacific region. Though often confused with the tuskfish, they are characterised by the upper and lower teeth into a beak and by the flattened plates of the pharyngeal teeth (throat teeth) which form an efficient crushing mill. Estimates of the relative ubundance and weight of fish inhabiting the coral reefs have shown parrot fish to be one of the more important groups,which may be apparent even to the casual observer. Forthis reason they are of interest not only to the itchyologist but also to the ecoligist attempting to analyse and explain the complexity of a coral reef.

Examples of te parrot-fish are highly different colourations .Despite therefine eating qaulitys and bright colouratoin parrot fish are rarely taken by hook and line anglers as they live mainly on corals and corraline algae. The parrot fish caught by anglers include the venus tusk-fish, the blue tuskfish and the blackspot and purple tusk-fish.The hump headed maori wrasse is also known as a double headed parrotfish.

Studies at heron island have shown parrot fish to be abundant, gregarious fishes with destinct patterns of behaviour.They are herbivorous and , except in species which are influenced by the tidal cycle,spend most of the daylight period feeding.

The colour pattern undergoes a series of drastic changes during the life cycle, these cycles being stimulated by both developement and sexual influence.The high degree of structual informity is accompanied by ecological and behavioural uniformaty, especially in relation to feeding activity. Such situation, where a number of similar species tend to do the same things in the same areas at the same time, is exstremely interesting to biologists.

In all species, feeding follows a simmilar pattern of non-seective grazing of the fine algal 'fur'that covers most exsposed areas of the reef.Patch reefs such as those of the capricornia group, support a growthh of minute blue-green,brown red and green algae.

It is this unobtrusive carpet of vegitation which provides the grazing fodder for the parrot fish.The exsposed surface is scraped thoroughly with the beak and calcarous fragments containinga high percentage of algae is past back to the pharygeal teeth and thoroughly ground. The thin walled , elongate gut is usually crammed with calcarous powder and algae fragments,and it is shown that parrotfish contribute substantially to the patterns of erosion and redistrabution of sediment an coral reefs .It is worthy of note that in no instence have parrot-fish been observed in grazing living coral.

FORMATION OF SCHOOLS

Most parrot fish tend to form schools at some part of there daily activity.These are of 2 types,:"loose association of three to si species,usually in groups of 8 to 20 ,or large schools of a single species containing 20 to 200 individuals.

The species comprising the former group are often solitary and appear to join up with other indviduals almost randomly to form loosely intergrated schools which are most abundant on outer reef slopes down to 8-10 fathoms.Species in the second catagory range over large areas of the reef flat at high water moving in large single species schools.Some parrot fish follow a deffinate route across a reef flat to a preferred grazing area.It has been demonstrated that parrot fish can orrientate themselfs bye referring to a sun compass.

All parrotfish pass the night in almost complete inactivity, and shortly befor sunset large groups may congregate in the vincinity of coral growths , ledges and crevices in the reef front, .

FAMILY..........scaridae

ORDER........perciformers

CLASS........osteitchthyes

THESE ARE GREAT TABLE FISH