Editing Parrotfish (section)

==Life cycle==
[[File:Papageifische im Roten Meer..DSCF0262BE.jpg|thumb|Terminal phase [[rusty parrotfish]] (''Scarus ferrugineus'') fighting.]]
Most tropical species form large schools when feeding and these are often grouped by size. Harems of several females presided over by a single male are normal in most species, with the males vigorously defending their position from any challenge.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}
As pelagic spawners, parrotfish release many tiny, buoyant eggs into the water, which become part of the [[plankton]]. The eggs float freely, settling into the coral until hatching.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}

=== Sex change ===
[[File:Cetoscarus bicolor by Jacek Madejski.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Cetoscarus bicolor|bicolor parrotfish]] (''Cetoscarus bicolor'') was described by [[Eduard Rüppell]] in 1829. In 1835, he mistakenly described the terminal phase, featured on this photo, as a separate species, ''C. pulchellus'']]

The development of parrotfishes is complex and accompanied by a series of changes in sex and colour ([[polychromatism]]). Most species are [[sequential hermaphrodites]], starting as females (known as the initial phase) and then changing to males (the terminal phase). In many species, for example the [[stoplight parrotfish]] (''Sparisoma viride''), a number of individuals develop directly to males (i.e., they do not start as females). These directly developing males usually most resemble the initial phase, and often display a different mating strategy than the terminal phase males of the same species.<ref name=Bester2009>Bester, C. ''[http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/Sparrotfish/SParrotfish.html Stoplight parrotfish.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120170504/https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/SParrotfish/SParrotfish.html |date=20 January 2016 }}'' Florida Museum of Natural History, Ichthyology Department. Accessed 15-12-2009</ref> A few species such as the [[Mediterranean parrotfish]] (''S. cretense'') are secondary [[gonochorists]]. This means that some females do not change sex (they remain females throughout their lives), the ones that do change from female to male do it while still immature (reproductively functioning females do not change to males) and there are no males with female-like colors (the initial phase males in other parrotfish).<ref name=Afonsoa/><ref name=Girolamo1999>{{cite journal | last1 = de Girolamo | first1 = Scaggiante | last2 = Rasotto | year = 1999 | title = Social organization and sexual pattern in the Mediterranean parrotfish Sparisoma cretense (Teleostei: Scaridae) | journal = Marine Biology | volume = 135 | issue = 2| pages = 353–360 | doi = 10.1007/s002270050634 | s2cid = 85428235 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Sadovy | last2 = Shapiro | year = 1987 | title = Criteria for the diagnosis of hermaphroditism in fishes | journal = Copeia | volume = 1987 | issue = 1| pages = 136–156 | doi = 10.2307/1446046 | jstor = 1446046 }}</ref> The [[marbled parrotfish]] (''Leptoscarus vaigiensis'') is the only species of parrotfish known not to change sex.<ref name=Lieske/> In most species, the initial phase is dull red, brown, or grey, while the terminal phase is vividly green or blue with bright pink, orange or yellow patches.<ref name=Lieske/><ref name=Randall2007/> In a smaller number of species the phases are similar,<ref name=Lieske/><ref name=Randall2007/> and in the Mediterranean parrotfish the adult female is brightly colored, while the adult male is gray.<ref name=Debelius1997>{{cite book | author=Debelius, H. | year=1997 | title=Mediterranean and Atlantic Fish Guide: From Spain to Turkey - From Norway to South Africa | publisher=ConchBooks | page=221 | isbn=978-3925919541 }}</ref> In most species, juveniles have a different color pattern from adults. Juveniles of some tropical species can alter their color temporarily to [[Mimicry|mimic]] other species.<ref>Cardwell JR1, Liley NR.Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1991 Jan;81(1):7-20</ref> Where the sexes and ages differ, the remarkably different phases often were first described as separate species.<ref name=Randall2007/> As a consequence early scientists recognized more than 350 parrotfish species, which is almost four times the actual number.<ref name=Bester2009/>

{{multiple image
| total_width       = 440
| image1            = Scarus psittacus, Kahaluu-Keauhou, HI 96740, USA imported from iNaturalist photo 301406558 (cropped).jpg
| caption1          = Female ''[[Scarus psittacus]]'' (= initial phase)
| image2            = Scarus psittacus, Island of Hawai'i, Hawaii, USA imported from iNaturalist photo 63881409 (cropped).jpg
| caption2          = Male ''[[Scarus psittacus]]'' (= terminal phase)
}}

The sex change in parrotfishes is accompanied by changes in circulating steroids. Females have high levels of estradiol, moderate levels of T and undetectable levels of the major fish androgen 11-ketotestosterone. During the transition from initial to terminal coloration phases, concentrations of 11-ketotestosterone rise dramatically and estrogen levels decline. If a female is injected with 11-ketotestosterone, it will cause a precocious change in gonadal, gametic and behavioural sex.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}