The wrasses are a family, Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly colored. The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 81 genera, which are divided into 9 subgroups or tribes. They are typically small, most of them less than 20 cm (7.9 in) long, although the largest, the humphead wrasse, can measure up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft). They are efficient carnivores, feeding on a wide range of small invertebrates. Many smaller wrasses follow the feeding trails of larger fish, picking up invertebrates disturbed by their passing. Juveniles of some representatives of the genera Bodianus, Epibulus, Cirrhilabrus, Oxycheilinus, and Paracheilinus hide among the tentacles of the free-living mushroom corals and Heliofungia actiniformis.
The humphead wrasse is a large species of wrasse mainly found on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. It is also known as the Māori wrasse, Napoleon wrasse, Napoleon fish, so mei 蘇眉 (Cantonese), mameng (Filipino), and merer in the Pohnpeian language of the Caroline Islands.
The comb wrasse or combfish is a species of wrasse of the genus Coris, native to the western Pacific Ocean off eastern Australia and around offshore islands off north eastern New Zealand. This species can be found in areas with sandy substrates around rock reefs at depths from 3 to 25 m. It can reach 25 cm (9.8 in) in total length. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The rainbow slender wrasse, also known as the painted rainbow wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. It is native to the western Pacific Ocean where it is found from Japan to Australia and east to New Zealand. It occurs on reefs at depths from 13 to 100 m, usually over patches of sand. This species can reach 13.5 cm (5.3 in) in total length.
Coris is a genus of wrasses, collectively known as the rainbow wrasses, found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
The red-breasted wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
The clown coris, also known as the clown wrasse, false clownwrasse, humphead wrasse, hump-headed wrasse, red-blotched rainbowfish or twinspot wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
The Mediterranean rainbow wrasse is a small, colourful fish in the family Labridae. It can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and in the northeast Atlantic Ocean from Sweden to Senegal. Records of this species south from Senegal and the Cape Verde Islands are actually the closely related Coris atlantica.
The blueside wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is found on reefs in schools swimming 1 to 2 m above the bottom. It occurs at depths from 2 to 30 m, most often between 5 and 20 m. This species can reach a standard length of 15 cm (5.9 in). It can be found in the aquarium trade.
The white-barred wrasse, also known as the white-barred pink wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae This wrasse is native to the central western Pacific Ocean from Japan to the Coral Sea. It inhabits coral reefs at depths from 20 to 58 m. This species can grow to 10.3 cm (4.1 in) in standard length. It can also be found, under the trade name "mystery wrasse", in the aquarium trade.
The queen coris, also known as the sand wrasse, Queen coris wrasse, Formosan coris, Formosa coris wrasse, Formosa wrasse, Indian Ocean wrasse or Indian sand wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean from the Red Sea and the coast of east Africa to Sri Lanka. This species appears in the aquarium trade due to its vibrant colors. A special feature about this species is how much they change from juvenile to adult form, in color, behaviour, and diet.
Coris gaimard, the yellowtail wrasse or African coris, among other vernacular names, is a species of wrasse native to the tropical waters of the central Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, from Christmas Islands and Cocos Keeling Islands to the Society Islands, Hawaii, and from Japan to Australia. It is an inhabitant of coral reefs, being found in areas that offer a mix of sand patches, rubble, and coral at depths from 1 to 50 m. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade and is popular species for display in public aquaria.
The Cortez rainbow wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Pacific Ocean from Baja California to Peru, as well as around the Galapagos Islands. It is a reef inhabitant, occurring in small schools from the surface to depths of 64 m (210 ft), though rarely deeper than 25 m (82 ft) or shallower than 2 m (6.6 ft). It is generally very common. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. This species can reach 15 cm (5.9 in) in total length. It feeds on small organisms such as crustaceans, plankton and fish eggs, and the young are cleaner fish.
The floral wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean from the coast of Africa to the Tuamotus and Marquesas. Its range extends as far north as the Ryukyus and south to New Caledonia. It is an inhabitant of reefs in lagoons or coastal waters at depths of from 1 to 30 m. This species can reach 45 cm (18 in) in total length. It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The orange-dotted tuskfish is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean from Sri Lanka eastward to French Polynesia in the western Pacific. Its range extends north to the Ryukyus and south to New Caledonia. It inhabits reefs at depths from 1 to 25 m (3.3–82.0 ft). This species can reach a length of 50 cm (20 in). It is commercially important, and can be found in the aquarium trade.
The deepwater wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the Pacific Ocean. It inhabits coral reefs and it can be found at depths from 60 to 217 m. This species can reach a standard length of 7.6 cm (3.0 in). It can be found in the aquarium trade.
The nebulous wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It can be found in groups at depths from 1 to 40 m on reef flats. This species feeds on fish eggs and benthic invertebrates, including crabs, sea urchins, ophiuroids, polychaetes, sponges and mollusks. Its coloration varies, ranging from brown to dark green. This species can reach 12 cm (4.7 in) in total length. It can be found in the aquarium trade.
The Weed wrasse, also known as Schwatz's wrasse or the seagrass wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Pacific ocean from Sumatra to Solomon Islands. It can be found in groups at depths from 1 to 4 m in seagrass beds and coral reefs. This species can reach 12 cm (4.7 in) in total length. Body is oval, rather elongated and laterally compressed. Adults are green and pinkish.
Coris cuvieri, the African wrasse, African coris or false clowwrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the wrasse family Labridae which is found in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. It is sometimes found in the aquarium trade.
Hologymnosus longipes, the sidespot longface wrasse or the plain slender wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses. It occurs in the western Pacific Ocean.
