WRASSE - LABRIDAE The Labridae family, together with the goby or Gobiidae family, is the biggest and most widespread fish species. Some of them are only five centimeters in length, while the biggest of all (Cheilinus undulatus) can grow to 2.3 meters long. All wrasse are born female and can change into primary males. The primary males mate in groups, while the colorful and territorial secondary males mate in pairs. Most wrasse species wait for the best time to mate. This depends on the position of the moon, ensuring that the pelagic eggs will be taken away by strong currents. The larvae come out after one day and develop further in open water. After one month they will look for their space on a reef somewhere. All wrasse are carnivores but have a variable diet. The Cirrilabrus- and Thalassoma specimen feed on plankton, juveniles of the Bodianus sp. and the Labrichthyni specimen work as cleaners and feed on ectoparasite crustaceans and sometimes on the body slime of their customer. Some of the small wrasse feed on tiny benthic animals which is why they need their double pupils to enable them to have close up eyesight. The mature Labrichthys- and Labropsis sp. feed on coral polyps and families like Anampses- and Stethojulis sp. filter sand to feed on small crustaceans, worms and small invertebrates. The biggest wrasse feed on invertebrates like crabs or sea urchins which they grind into pieces with their powerful teeth. All wrasse are very energetic swimmers and are only active during the day. Most small wrasse dig themselves into sand to sleep. Labridae only use their pectoral fins to swim and only when in danger will they also use their tailfin. Length: 25 cm. Distribution: from Indonesia to Philippines. Adults greyish with large white patch on lower body, 4 to 5 blurred broad dark bands from back to belly. The brown tear that can be seen at juveniles below, becomes pale blue with age. As the name Xyrichtys tetrazona is still not accepted, it is sometimes referred as Iniistius pavo. Coastal sand slopes, down to -20 m. Length: 25 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & E- Africa to S- Japan, Line Is, Australia and N- New Zealand. Blue or green body with fine red to pink vertical dashed-lines. dark pink bands on head. Deep lunate tail fin with yellow center. Dark pink pectoral fins with broad blue margin. Feeds primarily on small bentic invertebrates and fish eggs (photograph R). Lives solitary or in small groups in lagoons, coastal- and outer reefs, from -1 to -20 m. Length: 20 cm. Distribution: from Maldives to S- Japan, Fiji, Lord Howe Is. and E- Australia. Yellow under-colour with three large black “bars”, the first two are actually saddles. White to green belly and yellow tail base, narrow pale blue area around the eyes and pink chin. In small groups, lagoons, coastal- and outer reefs, from -1 to -15 m. They don’t mind some surge. Length: 30 cm. Distribution: from E- Africa to S- Japan, Line Is. and French Polynesia. White belly and pale green upper body, two pink horizontal lines on sides and 5 to 6 black saddles on back. Bright green forehead, pink bands on head. Pink margins on tail fin, blue-edged black ocellus on front anal fin. Feeds on invertebrates and small fish. In small groups, lagoons, coastal- and outer reefs, from -1 to -20 m. Length: 14 cm. Distribution: Somalia to Rowley Shoals, S- Japan, Line Is, N- Zealand, and Rapa Is. Blue-green head, large yellow-green patch in neck, blue to red body and two streaks below the eyes. Initial phase, white-green with a broad brown to black mid-lateral stripe going from snout to tail base and on back. Form groups above reef flats of lagoons and seaward reefs, to -15 m. Feeds primarily on crustacean zooplankton. Length: 14 cm. Distribution: from Maldives to S- Japan, Samoa and Great Barrier Reef. Different shades of green with yellow to orange area around cheek and pectoral fins. Red dorsal fin, three pale blue stripes from head to tail and one from snout passing pectoral fins. Pale blue-green belly. Solitary, on shallow reefs to -8 m. Length: 15 cm. Distribution: Indonesia to Mariana Is. (Micronesia), Coral Sea and Australia. From mottled red-brown to yellow-red with white horizontal lines from head to tail fin. Dark spots on lateral line, can form a line. Red-brown head with irregular pale lines, dark ocellus on gill cover. Males have filamentous extensions on first two dorsal fin rays. Solitary, soft coral-rich coastal reefs, from -3 to -25 m. Length: 30 cm. Distribution: from Red Sea & S- Africa to S- Japan and French Polynesia. Dark green with dark red spot on scales. Reddish fore body and back, except the pectoral fin, all other fins with blue margin. Yellow-black tail fin, yellow sides on upper lip. Solitary, feeds on algae and small invertebrates. Always close to a hiding place. Seaward reefs and channels, from -3 to -60 m. Length: 10 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & S- Africa to S.W- Japan, Tuamoto Is, Lord Howe and Australia. Violet body with six orange-red horizontal bars, from head to tail fin. Greenish tail fin with black spot on upper tail base. Red eyes with two white lines in the iris. Feeds mainly on small crustaceans. Shy, swims always close to the corals. Solitary or in small groups, lagoons and seaward reefs, from -2 to -35 m. ength: 20 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & E- Africa to SW- Japan, Samoa, E- Australia, New Caledonia. Red to red-brown with a diffuse pale bordered dark stripe from snout to tail base. Wavy diogonal lines on lower head and gill cover. Bright white area on cheeks. Red patch on anal and pelvic fins. Feeds mainly on small fish and crustacean. Lagoons and coastal reefs, from -15 to -80 m. Length: 30 cm. Distribution: Red Sea and E- Africa to SW- Japan, Samoa, Fiji and New Caledonia. This species is similar to some phases of O. unifasciatus but no white band on tail and lining behind the eye. Variable in colour and pattern. Diagonal lines on cheeks and yellowish area on tail fin. Among coral-rich areas of lagoon and sheltered seaward reefs, from -3 to -60 m. Length: 24 cm. Distribution: E- Borneo, Rowley Shoals, Philippines, S- Japan, Solomon Is. and Tonga. Different shades of brown, red and green, often with several dark blotches on rear body. Irregular orange to pink marginal lines around the eyes, which are paler on the cheek. Solitary, on coral-rich or sea grass areas of lagoons or seaward reefs. From -3 to -30 m. Length: 15 cm. Distribution: from E- Africa to S- Japan, Hawaiian and Marquesas Is. and Vanuatu. Variable from shades and pointy tail, sometimes with ocellus on dorsal fin and pink lines next to the eye. Near seagrass and weedy rubble areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs, from -2 to -60 m. Length: 30 cm. Distribution:R. Sea & E- Africa to Panama, S- Japan, Hawaii, Fr. Polynesia & Australia. Dark edged green scales, pale grey head which often show black lines radiating from eyes. Numerous elongate spots on dorsal and anal fin, white bar on tail fin. Juveniles green to brown with irregular white spots and 3 black bars, long first dorsal fin. Solitary or in pairs, rubble bottoms of lagoons and seaward reefs, from -3 to -25 m. Length: 15 cm. Distribution: Andaman Sea to SW- Japan, Philippines, Samoa and SE- Australia. Blackish with translucent tailfin, several pale saddles on back and labyrint print on head. Juveniles are completely black with numerous small white spots, translucent tail fin and dorsal fin with pattern. Lives solitary or in small groups in areas with coral, rubble and sand, in lagoons and seaward reefs, from -8 to -32 m. Length: 14 cm. Distribution: from Cocos-Keeling Is. to Pitcairn Is., S- Japan and S.E- Australia. Males yellow-brown with blue lines on the head and blue dots on the body. Small black spot above pectoral fins. Females and juveniles have a leopard pattern. Feeds mainly on hard bodied invertebrates and foraminifera. In lagoon and seaward reefs, areas of mixed sand, rubble and coral. From -2 to -30 m. Length: 13 cm. Distribution: Philippines, Mariana -and Marshall Islands. Orange-brown, scales with dark margin. Blue-grey head with white lips, and black tail with white margin. Juveniles are white with three brown-black stripes going from the black tail to snout. Very similar to Labropsis australis, who lives in the South-Pacific area. Clear lagoons and seaward reefs, from -7 to -33 m. Length: 14 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & E- Africa to S- Japan, Polynesia and Lord Howe & Rapa Island. A very common cleaner wrasse. Variable in colour. They feed on external parasites or diseased damaged tissue of other fishes. Mimicked by the blenny Aspidontus taeniatus. From inner lagoons, reef flats to seaward reefs as deep as -40 m. Territorial, mostly around their coral formation called “cleaning station”. Length: 15 cm. Distribution: E-Africa to S-Japan, Marquesas Islands and Lord Howe Island. White to yellow rear body, blue to black front body and head. Blue to black margin on tail fin. Solitary or in pairs, territorial among a “cleaning station”, in lagoons or on seaward reefs, from -2 to -40 m. Feeds on ectoparasites. Length: 25 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & E- Africa to S- Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Greyish-green with four to five red spots above pectoral fin or dark blotch and pale area with red-edged scales on sides. Shy, dives into sand when in danger. Steep blunt head. Solitary or in loose groups. On sand or muddy slopes of coastal reefs. From -2 to -30 m. Length: 35 cm. Distribution:R.Sea & E-Africa, Cntral America, S-Japan, Hawaii, Fr.Polynesia, Australia. Adults, pale grey with a large white patch on lower body, and 2 black spots on back. Juveniles from white to green-brown with spots or bars on the body. They have a long dorsal fin spine and often ocellus on dorsal fin. Dives into sand when threatened, or to sleep. Solitary, open sand areas of lagoons and seaward reefs, from -20 to -100 m. Length: 24 cm. Distribution: from Chagos Is. to SW-Japan, Hawaii, Micronesia and Australia. Pale grey with large white patch on lower forebody, often with 3 to 4 dusky bars on the sides. Juveniles are dark brown, green or pale yellow. Dives into sand to hide and sleep. On expanses of fine sand near coral reefs. From -12 to -92 m. Length: 60 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & E- Africa to SW- Japan, Micronesia, Fr. Polynesia, Lord Howe. Black rear body with pale spot or streak on most scales, greyish head and fore body. Often spot behind eyes. Juveniles have a yellow-orange tail fin and white band dividing the dark rear body with the pale front body, dark eyes. Feeds on bentic inver- tebrates. Lives solitary in areas with sand, rubble and coral of seaward reefs to -30 m. Length: 50 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & E- Africa to S- Japan, Micronesia, Line Is. and Australia. Green head with violet stripes and spots, thick lips. Black body with five vertical bands which are more narrow close to the dorsal fin. Black or yellow tail fin with a black spot. Solitary or in small groups, in areas with sand, coral and rubble, lagoons and seaward reefs, from -1 to -25 m. Length: 19 cm. Distribution: from Indonesia to N- Borneo(Malaysia) and Philippines. Brownish with white tail base and lower head white from below the eyes. Black scales with yellow to brown margin, black spot on pectoral -and pelvic fins. Juveniles dark red with black-edged white stripes and green tail base which spreads out over rear body. Solitary, lagoons, outer and coastal reefs, from -2 to -25 m. Length: 12 cm. Distribution: from Indonesia to SW- Japan, Samoa, Tonga and Great Barrier Reef. Males, blue-green stripes which become reddish towards the head, yellow pectoral fin base. 3 to 6 blue-green vertical bars on back. Females yellow with dark-edged pale blue horizontal stripes, small black spot on front dorsal fin and blue-edged ocellus on mid-dorsal fin and upper tail base. Solitary or in small groups, sheltered reefs to -15 m. Length: 20 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & Arabian Gulf to Mozambique, S- Japan, Samoa and G.B.R. Males, greenish with broad irregular mauve to orange band, from upper pectoral fin to tail fin base. Yellow area with black spot at pectoral fin base. Females, bluish grey with white belly. Red-orange stripe from snout to tail base, where it may have a black Length: 20 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & E- Africa to S- Japan, P.N.G, Vanuatu and Great Barrier Reef. Adult males pale green with large black blotch on upper fore body, females with zig- zag stripe from head to tail. Violet markings on head. Feeds on small crustacean. Solitary or in small groups, on sand, rubble or seagrass bottoms of lagoons and coastal reefs, from -2 to -20 m. Small groups, sand and rubble areas near seaward reefs, from -10 to -40 m. Length: 12 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & E- Africa to S- Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Grey-brown upper body and white lower body. Black ocellus on mid-dorsal fin and black markings on mid-sides, large red to dark violet patch on belly. Mostly in small groups on shallow weedy areas close to the reef. From -1 to -40 m. Length: 17 cm. Distribution: Red Sea and E- Africa to S- Japan, Line Is, Tuamotu Is. and SE- Australia. Brown-greenish, lines formed by blue spots on body. Narrow blue lines on head, blue dots on forehead. Tail fin, green, red and blue bars. Lives solitary or in small groups along the edges of coral-rich areas of lagoons and outer reefs to -30 m. Length: 27 cm. Distribution: from the Red Sea to French Polynesia, S- Japan and Great Barrier Reef. Yellow and black spot beneath dorsal fin. Pacific variant does not have black spot. Chessboard pattern on body, pink lines on the head. Feeds on small invertebrates and sleeps buried beneath the sand. Near sand patches of lagoon and seaward reefs. Juveniles, black and white body, ocellus on dorsal fin and brown line on cheek. Length: 12 cm. Distribution: Christmas Is, Bali, Marshall Is, S- Japan and S.E- Australia. Very similar to H. leucoxanthus which is white ventrally. One or two ocelli on soft dorsal fin, faded pink stripes on head (except females). Among sand and rubble areas at the reef edge, from -2 to -60 m. Length: 12 cm. Distribution: from Sri Lanka to Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Tonga and Australia. Purplish with green back. Pale spots on back and curved green, pink, orange and red markings on head. Juveniles dark brown when living on a reef, green when between sea grass. Brown-orange dorsal fin with small and big ocellus. Two ocellus on tail-base. Yellow chin, irregular lines and dots on head. Coastal reefs, to -15 m. Length: 35 cm. Distribution: Red Sea and E- Africa to S- Japan, Hawaii, Fr. Polynesia and Australia. High dark body with grey-white head and orange patch from head to mid-body. Often yellow vertical spot on snout, black margin on scales and black streak behind eyes. Females, pale brownish yellow-pink. Yellow fins, often with red lines on dorsal- and anal fin. They have a unique protractible jaw. Lives solitary on coral-rich outer or seaward reefs, from -1 to -42 m. Length: 12 cm. Distribution: from E- Africa to S- Japan, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Pale green to brown with thin bars on rear body, mostly with dark bar above pectoral fin. Pale red margin on dorsal, anal and tail fin. Dive into sand to hide and for sleeping. Lives solitary on extencive sandy areas of lagoons and coastal reefs, from -2 to -15 m. Length: 12 cm. Distribution: from Malaysia to Indonesia, Philippines and Australia. Bright white horizontal line from snout to tail. Lower part dirty white, black upper-part. Thin white line on back, from eyes to end of dorsal fin. Dorsal fin with central pale margin, other fins have a pale pink shine. In sand and rubble areas amongst coral heads, from -9 to -33 m. Length: 38 cm. Distribution: Indonesia to S- Japan, Hawaii, Fr. Polynesia, Lord Howe Is. and G.B.R. Variable in colour, mostly a mix of green, blue, red and yellow. Blue tail-base with small bright blue spots. Red to green mid-body, four to six red or green lines on head. Spine-like spike on first dorsal fin. Juv. orange with five dark-edged white saddles on the back and head. Solitary, sand and rubble areas next to reefs. From -3 to -50 m. Length: 20 cm. Distribution: Indonesia to S- Japan, Palau, Tonga, New Caledonia and Australia. Green-brown upper body, under body pink to white. Up to 8 vertical white bars and 3 to 4 red horizontal lines on sides. Red markings on head and snout. Black spot on rear dorsal fin base. The specimen on the photograph is missing its tail fin. Coastal and outer reefs, from -2 to -40 m. Length: 19 cm. Distribution: from E- Africa to Marshall Is., S- Japan, Great Barrier Reef and Tonga. Similar to C. variegata from the Red Sea. Light pinkish lines on the face and some on the body, four to five brown bands on the back. Ocellus on dorsal fin. In clear lagoon and on seaward reefs to over -15 m. Length: 15 cm. Distribution: from Indonesia to S.W- Japan, Palau, Fiji and Tonga. From blue to pink with small red dots on upper body. Red margin on tail fin and rear half of dorsal fin. Long pelvic fins. Solitary or form small groups on sand and rubble with patch reefs, from -25 to -52 m. Length: 8 cm. Distribution: from Philippines & Celebes. Red-orange on top, bottempart pink-ish. The two dotted lines makes it easy to determine. Solitary or in groups close above rubble and fine branched coral, on seaward coral reefs from -4 to -45 m. Length: 10 cm. Distribution: E- Andaman Sea to SW- Japan, P.N.G, NW- Australia and G.B.R. This multi-coloured wrasse is hard to describe because of many variations. Large blue patch from pectoral fin to back, greenish-brown head and pale from belly to tail base. Rear body, a mix of red, yellow-orange and blue. Solitary or in group along the edges of lagoons and seaward reefs, from -2 to -25 m. Length: 25 cm. Distribution: known from the Malaysian Peninsula, Indonesia and Philippines. Greyish upper-body, pale lower-body, mid-body yellowish with a broad white band from the pectoral fin to rear dorsal fin. White band is partly dark edged, and has a black saddle. Pale blue edge at lower-lip. On sand and rubble areas with many seawhip corals. Lagoons and coastal reefs, from -10 to -40 m. Length: 90 cm. Distribution: from Indonesia to SW- Japan, Papua New Guinea and North Australia. Greenish grey with blue streaks on scales, blue lines on pelvic- and tail fin. Black spot on base dorsal fin. Will overturn large rocks in search of food. Often rest on the bottom during the day. Lives solitary on sand, rubble and weedy areas of lagoons and seaward reefs. From -10 to -60 m. Length: 50 cm. Distribution: from the Red Sea to French Polynesia, S- Japan and Lord Howe. Females are white-greyish with orange-brown and black stripes on the sides, males are yellow or brownish. On weedy and grassy areas of lagoon and seaward reefs, intertidal down to -30 m. Length: 230 cm. Distribution: from the Red Sea to French Polynesia, Ryukyus and New Caledonia. Adults with prominent hump on forehead. In lagoons among pinnacles and seaward steep coral slopes, usually have a home cave in which they sleep. Juveniles among branching corals in shallow lagoons or sheltered reefs. Feeds primarily on molluscs and well-armored invertebrates, crown of thorns starfish, boxfish and seahares. Length: 45 cm. Distribution: from E- Africa to S.W- Japan, French Polynesia and New Caledonia. Similar to C. abudjubbe (Red Sea). Pinkish-red lining and dots on the head. Two white-greyish bands on the tail, dorsal-anal and tailfin has a red margin. Prefers shallow clear reef margins and areas with seagrass and good coral cover. Lagoon and seaward reefs, from 2 to -30 m. Difficult to approach. Length: 17 cm. Distribution: E- Africa to S- Japan, Line Is, Tuamotu Is. and SE- Australia. Variable in colour, from green to brown-red, dark spot on front of dorsal fin. Often dark spots on tail base, small red and/or white spots. Lives solitary or in pairs on and between corals of lagoons and outer reefs. From -1 to -40 m. Quite secretive. Length: 50 cm. Distribution: from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Oman. Dark blue tail and cream to yellow vertical band behind pectoral fin. In open water or along the edges of coral-rich fringing reef slopes, from -2 to -30 m. Length: 40 cm. Distribution:Red Sea to SW- Japan, Micronesia, Samoa, N. Caledonia and E- Australia. White body with broad black bars on body and tail, orange area behind head and on cheek. Orange lines around eyes and orange to red pelvic fins. Feeds on invertebrates. Lives solitary among areas with mixed sand, rubble and coral in lagoons and seaward reefs. From -3 to -40 m. Length: 36 cm. Distribution: E- Africa to SW- Japan, Micronesia, Tuamotu Is, Fr. Polynesia and G.B.R. From orange-brown to green-brown with numerous pink or white dots on body. Whitish blotches on back and tail, pink-red spots on head and lines underneath and behind the eyes. Lives solitary on sand, rubble and coral areas of lagoons and coastal reefs, from -2 to -30 m. Length: 35 cm. Distribution: endemic in the Red Sea. Similar to C. trilobatus. Pinkish-red lining on the head and dots on the front body. Small white blotches on back and belly. Lives Solitair around sand, rubble and coral-rich reefs, from -2 to -30 m. Length: 20 cm. Distribution: from Maldives throughout the entire Andaman Sea. Pale body with pink to red upper forebody, bright red blotch on anal and dorsal fin. Pale red margins on tail fin, white spot. Solitary, common on murky coastal reefs, from -2 to -15 m. Length: 25 cm. Distribution: Christmas Is. to Japan, Papua New Guinea and Great Barrier Reef. Dark red to brown head, white rear body. Broad diagonal black and yellow band from pectoral to dorsal fin. Large black spot with yellow to orange dot at pectoral fin base. Bright yellow anal and pelvic fins. Juveniles, purple-brown with yellow-edged spots. On coral-rich outer reef slopes, not too far from a hiding place. From -5 to -30 m. Length: 25 cm. Distribution: Red Sea & S- Africa to S- Japan, Marshall Is, Samoa and New Caledonia. Dark red head and back, long snout, blue and red area around the eyes. 4 - 5 yellow or white spots on back, black spots on rear back and tail base. Black spot on pelvic, anal and tail fin. Juv. dark red with numerous white spots and blotches, white-edged black spot on fins. Solitary or in pairs, coral-rich seaward reefs, from -5 to -25 m.