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The big-beaked, rock-munching fish that protect coral reefs - Mike Gil

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TEDEd Animation

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As the sun rises over a quiet coral reef, one animal breaks the morning silence. Named for its vibrant scales and beak-like teeth, the parrotfish devours a particularly crunchy breakfast: rocks. Why would any creature take bites out of the seafloor? Mike Gil explores how these quirky and flashy foragers play a key role in defending the essential coral reef ecosystem.

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Parrotfish and other reef fish species form social networks that can help individual fish within the network survive. How might fishing (removing fish from the reef) affect these social networks and the benefits they provide to fish and the greater coral reef ecosystem?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Mike Gil
  • Director Franz Palomares
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Illustrator Tara Sunil Thomas
  • Sound Designer Carlos Palomares
  • Composer Carlos Palomares
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Fact-Checker Julia Dickerson

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