Puerto Rico Dive Sites

Parrotfish

Scaridae · Also called: Peces loro, cotorro

Facts

  • Parrot-like beaks scrape algae off rock and dead coral, which opens space for corals to grow.[1]
  • They grind up the hard reef material they bite and pass it out as sand.[2]
  • At night they rest in reef crevices, and some wrap themselves in a mucus cocoon.[3]
  • Harvest of midnight, blue and rainbow parrotfish is banned in federal waters around Puerto Rico.[4]

Where it's been reported (3)

From the sources on each dive site's page. Sightings are never guaranteed.

  • Palomino Reef · Fajardo & La Cordillera“bandtail puffers, parrotfish harems” (Frommer's)
  • Seven Seas Beach · Fajardo & La Cordillera“parrotfish, damselfish, sergeant majors; corals along the way — 2015 article; one of 15 recommended snorkel beaches (Fajardo)” (Primera Hora)
  • Tres Palmas (Steps) · West Coast“parrotfish” (Primera Hora)

Sources

  1. Restoring Natural Grazing Processes Can Help Coral Reefs · NOAA Fisheries (accessed 2026-10-22)
  2. A Fish That Shapes the Reef · NOAA Fisheries (accessed 2026-10-22)
  3. 6 reasons habitat matters to fish, and people too · NOAA (accessed 2026-10-22)
  4. Seasonal and Area Fishing Closures in the U.S. Caribbean · NOAA Fisheries (accessed 2026-10-22)

Last checked 2026-10-22