Green humphead parrotfish

Bolbometopon muricatum · The green humphead parrotfish is a giant parrotfish that inhabits reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Red Sea to Samoa.

Also called Bumphead parrotfish, Humphead parrotfish, Double-headed Parrotfish, Buffalo parrotfish, Giant parrotfish.

Green humphead parrotfish
Photo: Rickard Zerpe, CC BY 2.0
Green humphead parrotfish
Photo: Dirk Froebel, CC BY 4.0
Green humphead parrotfish
Photo: Hectonichus, CC BY-SA 3.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderLabriformes
FamilyLabridae
GenusBolbometopon
SpeciesBolbometopon muricatum

Where it lives

Coral reefs and lagoons of the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea to Samoa.

Fun facts

  • It can grow to 1.3 m long and weigh up to 46 kg, with some reports of giants reaching 1.5 m and 75 kg.
  • Each adult munches through more than five tons of reef material a year, making it a keystone species for reef erosion.
  • It is said to ram its bulging forehead into corals just to help itself feed.
  • Rival males sometimes charge and smash their heads together so hard it produces loud jarring sounds.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).