Fish of the Reef
Coral reefs are home to over 4,000 fish species! The reef provides food, shelter, and nursery areas.
Clownfish live among the stinging tentacles of sea anemones. The clownfish is immune to the sting and receives protection from predators. In return, it cleans the anemone and lures food to it — symbiosis!
Parrotfish have beak-like mouths that bite chunks of coral, eating the algae. Ground-up coral passes through and comes out as fine white sand. A single parrotfish can produce up to 200 pounds of sand per year! Much of the white sand on tropical beaches was made by parrotfish.
Moray eels hide in crevices, poking their heads out. Cleaner wrasse fish swim right into the eel's open mouth to eat parasites — the eel gets cleaned and the wrasse gets a meal!
Anglerfish, lionfish, and surgeonfish add to the incredible diversity. Every nook and cranny of the reef is claimed by some creature.
**Fun Fact:** A single parrotfish makes up to 200 pounds of white beach sand per year from eating and pooping out ground-up coral!