Teeth scrape and grind to break down coral: parrotfish

Two types of teeth in parrotfish allow ingestion of coral and algae by scraping and grinding to break down the coral.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Break down >
	Physically break down >
	Abiotic materials

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Small-scale processing equipment for sand or gravel, manual equipment to recapture sand from old concrete.

[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The parrot fish feeds on algae and coral from coral reefs, and is one of the main causes of sand production from coral reefs. Its teeth are fused together to form a beak-like edge to the jaws for scraping at the coral, and it also has large flat-topped grinding teeth at the back of its throat for crushing the coral and algal mixture. The indigestible sand is excreted." (Foy and Oxford Scientific Films 1982:145)

About the inspiring organism

Scaridae
Scaridae
[Parrotfish]

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Small-scale processing equipment for sand or gravel, manual equipment to recapture sand from old concrete.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Construction

References

Foy, Sally; Oxford Scientific Films. 1982. The Grand Design: Form and Colour in Animals. Lingfield, Surrey, U.K.: BLA Publishing Limited for J.M.Dent & Sons Ltd, Aldine House, London. 238 p.

Teeth scrape and grind to break down coral: parrotfish

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