Villa Blanca Colorful parrotfish are commonly seen on most of the reefs in Cozumel.  Their hard teeth look much like a beak, and are used to crumble bits of coral to find food.  Many researchers believe that the parrotfish is a major source of sand in tropical waters. This spiny urchin is a relative of the starfish.  They are often seen at night.  The rest of the time they spend burrowed in the sand, where they feed on organic material.  This brittle starfish makes its home on a sponge.  With the absence of light, both appear black underwater.  This creature is called “brittle” because it will easily break off an arm to escape danger.  The arm does eventually grow back.  Do not touch!  Those spines do sting.       The juvenile trunkfish is very difficult to find because it is so small.  Text and phots by Bonnie Pelnar of Under Watercolours. COPYRIGHT 1999-2002 UNDER WATERCOLOURS