Steephead Parrotfish
Chlorurus gibbus
Large Red Sea parrotfish that bioerodes coral and sleeps in mucus cocoons.
Family
Scaridae
Avg Size
50-70 cm
Habitat
The steephead parrotfish lives on shallow reefs and over adjacent sandy patches in lagoons and bays, at depths of 2 to 30 m (6.6 to 98.4 ft). Adults gather over the outer reef where algae grow abundantly.
Behaviour
Adults school over algae-rich outer reefs and graze on filamentous algae, and individuals have been recorded living up to 14 years. The species is a protogynous hermaphrodite, organised into harems led by a single dominant male, yet it is not territorial and feeds peacefully alongside other species.
Where & When to See It
Habili Ali
The Barge at Bluff Point
Bluff Point
The Ulysses
Fury Shoals
Abu Dabbab
Elphinstone
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Carnatic
Chrisoula K
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
Eel Garden
Eel Gardens
El Erug
El Fanous West
El Mina Wreck
Erg Abu Ramada
Erg Sabina
Erg Somaya
Far Garden
Fiddle Garden
Giannis D
Gota Abu Ramada
Gota Kebir
Gota Soraya
Habili Gaffar
Hamda
Jackfish Alley
Jackson Reef
Kimon M
Kormoran
Laguna Reef
Lighthouse
Little Brother Island
Near Garden
North Ras Abu Galum
Numidia
Panorama Reef
Paradise
Pinky Wall
Ras Bob
Ras Burg
Ras Disha
Ras Ghamila
Ras Ghozlani
Ras Katy
Ras Nasrani
Ras Um Sid
Ras Zaatar
Rocky Island
Rosalie Moller
Salem Express
Shaab Abu Nugar
Shaab Eissa
Shaab Petra
Shabrur Um Gamar
Shag Rock (Kingston)
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Shark Observatory
Siyul Kebira
Small Crack
Small Giftun
Sodfa
South Ras Abu Galum
The Alternatives
The Canyon
The Islands
Thistlegorm
Thomas Reef
Three Pools
Tower
Turft El Shahed
Turtle Bay
Turtle Reef
Umm Gamar North
Umm Gamar South
Umm Kharalim
White Knight
Woodhouse Reef
Zabargad Island
Abu Nuhas
Abu Ramada South
Amphoras
Banana Reef
Big Brother Island
Blue Hole - El Bells
El Fanadir
Shaab Sabina
Abu Hashish
Abu Kifan
Abu Ramada North
Aida
Belina Wreck
Big Giftun
Careless Reef
Shark's Bay
Soma Bay Garden
Temple
The Caves
Gordon Reef
Middle Garden
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
Napoleon Reef
North Gabr El Bint
Ras Abu Helal
Sha'ab Sharm
Shaab El Erg
Shaab Eshta
Shaab Maksur
Shaab Sataya
Abu Ghalawa
Shaab Claudia