| Family: |
Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Cheilininae |
| Max. size: |
46 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,400.0 g |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 160 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Rowley Shoals in northwestern Australia, New Caledonia, and Rapa. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-11. Adults developing a distinctive black blotch covering the rears of the dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 37816). Display a bright white band over the tail (Ref. 48636). White bar often present on caudal peduncle (this pattern very changeable). Red lines radiating posteriorly from eye continuous across opercle to posterior opercular edge. Membranes of spinous portion of dorsal fin smooth, not incised (Ref 9823). |
| Biology: |
Usually solitary in coral rich areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs. Hovers well above the bottom (Ref. 9710, 48636). Young secretive in soft corals and hydrozoans (Ref. 48636). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds mainly on fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans (Ref. 9823). May be ciguatoxic (Ref. 37816). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 July 2008 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
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