Parrotfish bring more than vibrant colors and striking patterns to a coral reef—they also add its soundtrack. While snorkeling or diving, you can often hear the unmistakable crunch as these fish graze on hard corals, a reminder that reefs are alive not only with movement, but with sound.

This piece features a female stoplight parrotfish as she moves in to take a bite of coral, capturing one of the everyday moments that helps shape and sustain the reef ecosystem. Through their feeding, parrotfish play an important role in creating the sands and healthy habitats that make tropical reefs so extraordinary.

Original acrylic pointillism on 8 × 10-inch canvas.

The original is still available for purchase.