White sand beaches look pristine—but what if we told you they’re built by fish with serious digestion skills? Meet the parrotfish: part reef recycler, part underwater bulldozer, and full-time sand maker.

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Parrotfish are colorful, beak-faced fish that live in coral reefs. They munch on chunks of coral—not just for fun, but to get the algae living inside the coral skeletons.

While feeding, they scrape off and swallow both the algae and the coral rock. Inside the parrotfish’s powerful digestive system, the coral gets crushed and broken down.

What comes out the other end?
Ultra-fine, white sand.

Scientists estimate that a single parrotfish can produce up to 90 kilograms (about 200 pounds!) of sand per year. That’s like a beach in progress… one poop at a time.

In fact, some of the most famous beaches in the world—like those in the Maldives, Caribbean, and Hawaii—owe a lot of their powdery texture to parrotfish.

This process isn’t just funny—it’s ecologically important. Parrotfish play a key role in reef health:

They prevent algae from smothering coral
They clean the reef
They literally build beach ecosystems over time

Without them, beaches could disappear, and reefs would suffer. Unfortunately, overfishing and coral destruction are threatening these fish—and our future beach selfies.

So next time you're relaxing on soft sand, thank a parrotfish.

Fun Fact:

About 70–80% of the white sand on tropical beaches in places like Hawaii comes from parrotfish digestion. You’re literally sunbathing on fish poop.