Bumphead Parrotfish
Bolbometopon muricatum
Sighting evidence at Nambatu Reef, Efate
Photo: Mark Rosenstein · CC BY-NC
Bumphead parrotfish visit Nambatu's reef crest in the early morning hours of the dry season, when schools of up to 30 individuals arrive to feed on the live coral before retreating to deeper water as the day progresses. The audible crunch of their teeth on coral can be heard from 10 meters away, and the white sand they defecate — processed coral skeleton — drifts down the wall face in visible plumes. Their presence at Nambatu in this number is notable given the species' severe decline across the Pacific, and reflects the relatively limited fishing pressure Efate's outer reefs experience.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Bumphead Parrotfish is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.