THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

168 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
lay elliptical eggs, which are normally guarded
by the male.
Remarks: Like many damselfishes, Stegastes
are highly territorial and pugnacious.
Maori Wrasse aka Humphead Wrasse
Cheilinus undulates (Labridae)
Wrasses
Distribution: Much of the tropical and subtropical
Indo-West Pacific.
Habitat: Larger adults are typically found on
outer or deep reefs and in the more open area
around steep coral or cliff walls, channel slopes,
boulder-rich habitats and in lagoon reefs up to
100 m deep. Adults frequently shelter in caves
or crevices at night. Smaller individuals and
juveniles prefer a more cryptic environment
of dense branching corals, and areas of bushy
macroalgae or seagrasses.
Appearance: A distinctive hump on the
forehead above the eyes becomes more
prominent with age. Lips are fleshy and thick.
Adult coloration varies from bright electric
blue to green, purplish blue, or a dull bluish
green with a yellow posterior margin tapering
to the caudal. Scales are large. Juveniles are a
pale green with elongate dark spots forming
bars on its scales and 2 black lines extend from
the eyes. Males much larger than females. Max
length: males - 2 m; females - 1 m.
Diet: Primarily mollusks (particularly
heavy-shelled gastropods), crustaceans, fish,
echinoderms and other invertebrates. One of
very few predators to feed on toxic animals
such as sea hares, boxfishes and the crown-ofthorns
sea star.
Reproduction and Development: This species
is very slow to sexually mature; females are
sexually mature between 5–7 years, males
around 9 years. Maori wrasses are protogynous
hermaphrodites producing eggs before sperm.
Spawning occurs with small groups of adults
aggregating in the downward currents of reefs.
Eggs are pelagic.
Mortality/Longevity: Individuals are
exceptionally long-lived with males reaching
25 years, females around 30 years.
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List:
Threatened, mostly because of high fishing
pressures in the center of its range in
southeastern Asia. Also, highly valued by
the aquarium trade. Data suggests declines
over 10–15 years in exploited areas of 10-fold
or more. Today, much of catch is juvenile
fish, the preferred market size of this largegrowing
species. The Maori’s long maturation
time and the severe reduction of sexually
mature individuals reduces the potential for
population increase.
Remarks: The Maori wrasse is the largest
member of the family Labridae.
Harlequin Tuskfish
Choerodon fasciatus (Labridae)
Wrasses
Distribution: Western Pacific, disjunct distribution.
North: Ryukyus to Taiwan; South: New
Caledonia to Queensland.
Habitat: Seaward reefs, 5–35 m. Usually solitary.
Patrol a large territory. Active diurnally.
Appearance: Length to 30 cm. Vertical, broad,
bright orange bands interspersed with blue
bands. Black caudal peduncle, white tail. Dorsal
and pelvic fins orange.
Diet: Mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans,
worms.Tuskfish have protruding canines used
for moving rubble to expose invertebrate prey
and prying mollusks from the substrate. Hardshelled
prey crushed by pharyngeal teeth.
Reproduction and Development: Pelagic
spawners, initial males spawn in large groups;
terminal males are usually territorial and pair
spawn with females of their choice. Females
change sex into males for their terminal phase.
Exquisite Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus exquisitus (Labridae)
Wrasses
Distribution: East Africa to Tuamotus, north to
Izus, southern Japan and south to Great Barrier
Reef, Australia.
Habitat: Over rubble or low patch reefs in areas
of current, also on reef edges and near rubble
zones in 5–35 m depth.
Appearance: Length to 12 cm. Post-juvenile
initial phase to 7 cm and colored shades of
brown; large black spot on base of upper tail.
Terminal phase individuals colored shades of
green, bright red margins on dorsal and anal
fins, narrow blue stripe from mid-body to tail,
large black spot on base of upper tail, two or
three blue line marks on head.