Queen parrotfish

Parrotfish are among the most ecologically important fish on Caribbean reefs, using their fused beak-like teeth to scrape algae and dead coral from the reef surface. In the process they produce the white sand that characterises Caribbean beaches — a large parrotfish can produce over 100 kilograms of sand per year. The recovery of Sandy Point's coral relies heavily on the abundant parrotfish population keeping algae competition suppressed. Terminal phase males display brilliant blue and green colouration. Parrotfish are a bioindicator species — their abundance at Sandy Point confirms the marine park's grazing protection is working.