Gender variation
Another amazing metamorphosis by Parrotfish - gender variation as they progress through their lifespan. It’s a minefield attempting to understand how many individual species transform from female to male (or not). The majority of Parrotfish are sequential hermaphrodities, they change sex during the course of their lifespan. Most start as females (known as the initial phase) and then change into males (known as the terminal phase).
Each phase is accompanied by a remarkable colour transformation, although like much wildlife; this means that females are likely to retain dull less interesting colours whilst the male phase is highlighted by astoundingly beautiful patterns and bright colouring. Parrotfish shine out from the already colourful reefs, not just because of their enormous teeth but because of their radiant colouring which appears iridescent as the sun penetrates through the water from above.