Bullethead parrotfish
Red Sea marine life

Bullethead parrotfish

Beak-like teeth that audibly crunch coral, the reef's gardeners.

All Red Sea marine life

About this species

You'll hear them before you see them, the soft crunching sound on the reef is parrotfish biting algae off coral. They digest the calcium carbonate and excrete white sand. A single large parrotfish produces hundreds of kilos of sand each year.

Where to find it

Reef tops, almost any site. Usually in small groups.

Safety for snorkelers

Common questions

Bullethead parrotfish: is it dangerous for snorkelers?+

Safe. It is harmless to snorkelers. Watch from a respectful distance and do not chase or feed it.

Bullethead parrotfish: where can you see it in Egypt?+

Reef tops, almost any site. Usually in small groups. These trips go where this species lives. It is a wild animal, so a sighting is possible and never promised.

Bullethead parrotfish: how big does it get?+

30–45 cm

More Red Sea species