Parrotfish in its protective mucus shield

When parrotfish sleep at night, they often secrete a mucus "sleeping bag" around themselves for protection from predators. The bags also have antibiotic properties that are beneficial for the fish. There are over 30 species of parrotfish on the Great Barrier Reef and you are usually guaranteed to see these magnificently coloured creatures swimming over the corals. They all share a few common traits, the most obvious being their teeth. Parrotfish evolved from the carnivorous wrasse family, but through the course of time, their teeth have moved forward on the jawbone and reduced in size. Eventually, the teeth fused together creating a very useful tool for scratching algae off the surface of the coral. Filmed at Norman Reef recently, check out this video clip of a parrotfish tucked away for the night while the coral spawns. Vision courtesy of Satoshi Kagimoto, Indepth Video. Enjoy a day trip to spot a parrotfish and many more tropical creatures with Great Adventures - Green Island Cruises http://www.greatadventures.com.au/