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Girella zebra, also known as the Zebrafish or stripey bream, is a species of fish in the Kyphosidae family. Kyphosidae is home to about 42 species divided into 2 subfamilies called Kyphosinae and Girellinae.

Anatomy and appearance
Adult members of the Girella zebra have a pale body with either 9 or 10 black stripes on the sides of their bodies. They also have bright yellow fins. Younger members of the species typically do not exhibit distinct striping on their bodies. Other features of this fish include a small mouth, long dorsal fin, and large caudal fin.

The mouth of a Girellidae fish consists of between three to six rows of flattened teeth with the front row containing 3 teeth. The tongue is equipped with long and narrow gill rakers that assist in feeding on small prey. The Girella zebra has an upper and lower jaw containing sharp teeth, with the lower jaw being triangular in shape. The intramandibular joint located in the lower jaw increases gape size and leads to increased force production during prey acquisition.

Taxonomy
There are a total of 18 species currently recognized as belonging to the Girella genus including Girella cyanea, Girella elevata, Girella fimbriata, and Girella leonina. G. zebra belong to the family Kyphosidae, which consists of a group of marine organisms called sea chubs. Kyphosidae are major macroalgal feeders on coral reefs. Members of this family are widely distributed throughout the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans.

Distribution and habitat
Girella zebra are native to Australia and are commonly distributed along the southern coast of the continent. They are typically found in tropical or subtropical regions, specifically in bays, estuaries, and coral reefs in Australian waters. They can be found in maximum depths of 20 meters in coastal water habitats.

Size
Girella zebra can reach a maximum length of 34.0 cm.

Diet
Members of the Girella genus can be either herbivorous or omnivorous, yet their diet consists mostly of plant-based food. Algae is the main food source for G. zebra, as they are known for consuming algae on coral reefs.

Reproduction
Eggs and sperm are released into the water through the process of pelagic spawning. They spawn near the surface. Due to high mortality rates, females release many eggs into the open water where fertilization occurs externally. Pelagic spawning is common in marine organisms living among coral reefs.

Behavior
This species has been known to engage in schooling behavior. Proposed benefits of schooling includes avoidance of predators and increased foraging success.

Parasitism
Members of the Girella zebra species are hosts to a recently discovered species of parasitic flatworms. The newly discovered species of flatworm, Pholeohedra overstreeti, was identified and described by dissecting the intestines of the Girella zebra, showing its parasitic relationship with the G. zebra.