PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Facts
- There are over 80 different species
- They begin life as female then change sex when needed
- Male parrot fish live with groups of females
- If the male dies the dominant female turns into the male
- They are called parrot fish because of their beak like mouth
Variations
- Changes in color
- Differance in sizes
- Differance in shape
According to the Britsh Journal of Ophthalmology all variations in Parrot Fish are onto-genetic and occur during the Parrot fish's different sexual stages.
Adaptations
Parrot fish have organs in their heads that allow them to cover themselves in mucus. It keeps predators from smelling their scents. Parrot fish also have a strong, beak like mouth that is used to scrape algae off of coral. It can also break off pieces of coral.
Inheritance
Parrot fish get their traits or genes from their parents.
Time
The evolution of parrot fish is recent and has been quick. The first parrot fishes lived in the Tethys Sea 12 million years ago (The History of Parrotfishes).
Natural Selection
There is one selection pressure directed towards male coloration. The selection pressure is that the males weren't able to attract mates so they developed their bright colors to attract the blander females.
Work Cited
Schwab, I. R., and J. Marshall. "Hiding in Plain View." British Journal of Ophthalmology. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd., 2003. Web. 6 May 2014.
Streelman, J. T., M. Alfrado, M. W. Westneat, D. R. Bellwood, and S. A. Karl. "EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY OF THE PARROTFISHES: BIOGEOGRAPHY, ECOMORPHOLOGY, AND COMPARATIVE DIVERSITY." People.tamu.edu. Texas A&M University N, 24 Jan. 2002. Web. 6 May 2014.
