Parrotfish
Chlorurus sordidus
Chlorurus sordidus, commonly called the daisy parrotfish or bullethead parrotfish, is a marine fish in the family Scaridae.
Family
Scaridae
Avg Size
25-40 cm
Habitat
Each night before resting, this parrotfish produces a mucus envelope that seals it in a complete cocoon. Its exact function is not fully understood, but one idea is that it shields the fish from parasitic gnathiids. The species is preyed on by the honeycomb grouper (Epinephelus merra) and the coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus), and its parasites include the monogenean Benedenia scari. It is sociable and schools with other parrotfishes such as Scarus psittacus. As one of the most widespread parrotfishes, it is highly variable, with some regional forms likely amounting to subspecies.
Behaviour
Before sleeping it secretes mucus that wraps it in a full cocoon, perhaps to guard against parasitic gnathiids, though the purpose is still unclear. It is hunted by the honeycomb grouper and the coral trout and carries the monogenean parasite Benedenia scari. A sociable fish, it schools with other parrotfishes like Scarus psittacus, and being so widespread it shows considerable variation, with some geographic forms probably qualifying as subspecies.
Where & When to See It
Aida
Gota Kebir
Habili Gaffar
Big Brother Island
Gota Soraya
Daedalus Reef
Little Brother Island
Numidia
Umm Kharalim
Thistlegorm
Blue Hole - El Bells
Bluff Point
Careless Reef
Chrisoula K
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
Eel Garden
Eel Gardens
El Fanous West
Elphinstone
Erg Somaya
Far Garden
Fiddle Garden
Fury Shoals
Giannis D
Gordon Reef
Habili Ali
Hamda
Jackfish Alley
Jackson Reef
Kormoran
Laguna Reef
Middle Garden
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
Napoleon Reef
Near Garden
North Gabr El Bint
North Ras Abu Galum
Panorama Reef
Paradise
Pinky Wall
Ras Abu Helal
Ras Bob
Ras Burg
Ras Katy
Ras Nasrani
Ras Um Sid
Ras Zaatar
Salem Express
Sha'ab Sharm
Shaab Claudia
Shaab Eissa
Shaab El Erg
Shaab Eshta
Shaab Maksur
Shaab Sabina
Shabrur Um Gamar
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Shark Observatory
Shark's Bay
Siyul Kebira
Small Crack
Abu Dabbab
Sodfa
Soma Bay Garden
South Ras Abu Galum
Temple
The Alternatives
The Barge at Bluff Point
The Canyon
The Islands
The Ulysses
Thomas Reef
Tower
Turtle Bay
Turtle Reef
Umm Gamar South
White Knight
Woodhouse Reef
Abu Hashish
Carnatic
El Erug
El Fanadir
El Mina Wreck
Erg Abu Ramada
Erg Sabina
Gota Abu Ramada
Kimon M
Lighthouse
Ras Disha
Ras Ghamila
Ras Ghozlani
Rosalie Moller
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Shaab Abu Nugar
Shaab Petra
Shaab Sataya
Shag Rock (Kingston)
The Caves
Three Pools
Turft El Shahed
Umm Gamar North
Small Giftun
Abu Ghalawa
Abu Kifan
Abu Nuhas
Abu Ramada North
Abu Ramada South
Amphoras
Banana Reef
Belina Wreck
Big Giftun