A MACHINE FOR MAKING SAND
- The Parrotfish (Scaridae) lives in the waters of the Red Sea and tropical areas.
- The Parrotfish is a very important species in the reef ecosystem.
It measures between 50 and 100 centimeters. - With its wide range of bright colors, it is one of the most visible and attractive fish on coral reefs.
- It clamps coral with its powerful beak-like jaws and strong back teeth. It extracts small pieces of food, then expels the rest as fine sand.
- The Parrotfish can live 20 years without wearing out its teeth.
- They produce up to 100 kilograms of sand per year, which amounts to about 2 tonnes over their lifetime.
- They prevent algae growth on corals and with the sand they protect the coasts from erosion.
Ocean Citizens promotes a simple concept:
“We are all citizens of the ocean! Every small action we take to educate people is a big step in protecting the future of our planet and our precious ocean wildlife.”
© Dr. David Ohnona
