| Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Corinae |
| 50 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 30 m |
| Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Easter islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 11-12. Young individuals are usually a mottled brown or green, sometimes with a broad lateral stripe (Ref. 1602). Rare individuals may be uniformly yellow (Ref. 1602). Coloration in this fish is variable: green, brown, orange-brown or yellow, often with narrow, midlateral, broken black stripe which are absent in large males (Ref. 86689). Large males may develop a bright yellow, orange, black, white, or multicolored patch on their sides behind their pectoral fins (Ref. 1602). |
| Inhabit seagrass beds and algal-covered flats, occasionally in lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of at least 30 m (Ref. 1602, 41878, 48636). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Usually solitary. Juveniles secretive in seagrasses or attached Sargassum; adults usually in small loose aggregations, but occasionally form large schools to spawn (Ref. 48636). Feed mainly on crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins (Ref. 37816) and other hard-shelled prey. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 July 2008 Ref. (130435)
|
| reports of ciguatera poisoning |
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