parrotfish

The Mediterranean parrotfish can grow up to 50 cm. Like its counterparts, the body is elongated and laterally compressed.

The dorsal fin has eight spines. The anal fin has three spines and nine soft rays.

These fish live in reefs. They sometimes frequent seagrass beds nearby. Adults mainly feed on algae they pick from rocks. They sometimes supplement this diet with aquatic microorganisms.

Males are territorial, with the larger ones occupying the best areas. They particularly favor exposed reef edges and deeper areas. These sites seem important for promoting reproduction as they allow for better egg dispersion during spawning.

During the first three years, growth is rapid and adult size is almost reached by the end of this period.

The Mediterranean parrotfish is an oviparous fish that spawns in open water. Females are mature in the first year, males in the third. In the Aegean Sea, reproduction occurs from July to September.

During the breeding season, two types of social structures are observed: territorial groups organized around a dominant male, accompanied by one to three females; non-territorial groups which can include up to fifty fish.

Spawning occurs in pairs for a brief moment, before dusk. It has only been observed among territorial groups. However, in the absence of organized gatherings outside the breeding season, it is possible that another mode of reproduction coexists. Additionally, females have an asynchronous ovary typical of species that reproduce multiple times during a breeding season.

Fertilized eggs are carried away by currents, and the larvae are pelagic.