Novaculops halsteadi (Randall & Lobel, 2003)
Halstead's sandy
Novaculops halsteadi
photo by Johnson, J.

Family:  Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Xyrichtyinae
Max. size:  12.02 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 15 - 100 m
Distribution:  Pacific: Papua New Guinea, Guam, Wake Island, and Tahiti.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 12-12; Vertebrae: 25-25. This species is characterized by the following: D IX,12, the first two dorsal spines flexible and shorter than longest dorsal soft rays; body depth 3.1-3.35 in SL; cheek scaleless; 2 small scales dorsally on opercle; gill rakers 17-20; juveniles and females whitish with a red stripe from above eye to back at base of dorsal fin; males with a pale-edged black spot on seventh lateral-line scale and scales below (Ref. 75958).
Biology:  Found solitary or in small groups near reefs in sand-rubble bottoms (Ref. 90102). Feeds on small benthic invertebrates (Ref. 89972). Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 March 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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