THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

Pinstriped Wrasse
Halichoeres melanurus (Labridae)
Wrasses
Distribution: Western Pacific Ocean.
Habitat: Sheltered reefs to 2–15 m.
Appearance: Juvenile to 11 cm. Alternating
yellow to orange and blue horizontal stripes,
small black spot on dorsal fin, large blueedged
black dots on mid-dorsal fin, similar but
smaller markings on upper tail base. Adults to
12 cm. Alternating horizontal green teal and
orange stripes. Three to 6 narrow turquoise
bars on upper side, large yellow spot on base
of pectoral fin, black tail tip.
Diet: Small invertebrates including polychaetes,
copepods, isopods and foraminiferans.
Reproduction and Development: Protogynous
hermaphrodite; largest female in a male’s
territory typically completes sex change within
2–3 weeks of male’s disappearance.
Mortality/Longevity: Preyed upon by
lizardfishes and other fishes.
Remarks: A recent study showed that sex
change for this species, if recent, is reversible.
When a dominant male was reintroduced to a
territory, the newly sex-changed male reverted
to its former female role.
Two-tone Wrasse
Halichoeres prosopeion (Labridae)
Wrasses
Distribution: Western Pacific; east to Indonesia
and Sumatra, north to southern Japan, south
to Great Barrier Reef.
Habitat: Lagoons and seaward reefs.
Appearance: Adults green-blue in front fading
to light yellow behind. A dark spot behind
the eye; dorsal fin with large black spot near
the front. Unlike most wrasses, no obvious
differences between sexes. Max. size: 13 cm.
Diet: Small crabs, shrimps, worms, and other
benthic invertebrates.
Remarks: Like many wrasses, quickly buries
in sand when threatened or alarmed.
Rock Wrasse
Halichoeres semicinctus (Labridae)
Wrasses
Distribution: Pt. Conception, California to
Guadalupe Island off central Baja California.
Habitat: Close to rocks near patches of sand;
California Academy of Sciences
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tide pools and down to 24 m.
Appearance: Cigar-shaped fish with prominent,
forward-pointing teeth; large scales. Greenish
above, yellow below. Males have dark bar
behind base of yellow pectoral fin. Wavy
blue lines may radiate from the eye. Dark
flecks on back, especially noticeable in young
individuals. Max size: 38 cm.
Diet: Small invertebrates, taken during the day.
Reproduction and Development: Protogynous
hermaphrodites.: individuals function first as
females, then about 5% change to males at
length of about 30 cm.
Remarks: Sleeps at night buried in sand, with
head protruding, and will dart to a sandy refuge
during the day if startled.
Striped Cleaner Wrasse
Labroides dimidiatus (Labridae)
Wrasses
Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
Habitat: Virtually all coral reef habitats: inner
lagoons and subtidal reef flats to seaward
reefs, 0.5-40 m, typically near branching corals.
Active diurnally. Aggressively territorial.
Nocturnally retires to small crevices in the reef,
enclosing itself in a mucus cocoon. Remains in
stations where other fish come to be cleaned.
Appearance: Length to 11.5 cm. Elongate body,
tubular mouth. Anterior of body yellowish,
posterior very pale blue. Widening horizontal
black band from mouth, through eye to end
of tail.
Diet: Coral polyps, crustacean ectoparasites
and mucus gleaned from other fishes.
Reproduction and Development: External batch
spawns in pairs, also haremic. 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 when the
dominant male is removed. Sex change complete
within 14–18 days. Do not guard eggs.
Mortality/Longevity: Can live to at least 4
years.
Remarks: The most common cleaner wrasse
on reefs.
Pick external parasites from other fishes. Also
clean the wounds of other fishes by removing
scar tissue. Clean the gills and even enter the
mouth of the host.