Mediterranean Parrotfish

Photo: Selim Türeli · CC BY

Vivid blue and red supermales patrol the shallowest sections of the ruined harbour, their fused beaks visibly scraping biofilm from the stone surfaces. Mediterranean parrotfish are expanding their range northward as sea temperatures rise, and Phaselis now supports a resident breeding population. Their characteristic bite marks are visible on softer limestone blocks, contributing to the slow erosion of the archaeological fabric.