Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Scaridae
- Genus
- Scarus
- Species
- coelestinus
Habitat
They primarily inhabit coral reefs and rocky areas in the western Atlantic Ocean, from Florida and the Bahamas to Brazil. These fish prefer shallow to moderate depths of 3 to 25 meters, where they find abundant algae and shelter among corals.
Diet
Midnight parrotfish mainly consume algae and seagrasses, which they scrape from rocks and dead coral using their strong beak. They occasionally eat small invertebrates or coral polyps. Feeding activity peaks during the day when they actively graze on reef surfaces.
Behavior
Midnight parrotfish are diurnal, spending their days foraging on reefs and resting in crevices at night. They often form small schools or pairs and exhibit territorial behavior, with dominant males defending feeding areas. They contribute to reef health by grinding coral and controlling algae growth through their feeding habits.
Conservation Status
Listed as Data Deficient by IUCN.