| Halichoeres chrysus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Labriformes |
| Family: | Labridae |
| Genus: | Halichoeres |
| Species: | H. chrysus |
| Binomial name | |
| Halichoeres chrysus Randall, 1981 | |
Halichoeres chrysus, commonly called the canary wrasse, golden wrasse or yellow wrasse, is a wrasse native to the central Indo-Pacific area.
Halichoeres chrysus is a small fish that can reach a maximum length of 12 cm. It has a thin, elongate body with a terminal mouth. Body coloration is bright yellow with a few variations according to age. Juveniles and immature females have two black spots rimmed with white or light yellow on the dorsal fin and a third one between the caudal peduncle and the caudal fin; in contrast, matures females or young males only show the two black spots on the dorsal fin. Mature males display only the first black spot in the front of the dorsal fin, a lighter-colored spot just behind the eye and irregular greenish to pinkish bars on the face. [2]
Halichoeres chrysus is quite widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the central Indo-Pacific, in an area bordered by the Christmas Islands and Indonesia, Japan, New South Wales and the Rowley Shoals, and Tonga and the Solomon Islands. [1] [3] This wrasse occurs on outside reef slopes, in rubble and sandy areas from surface down to a depth of 30 m. [2] [4]
Halichoeres chrysus lives in small groups. It is a benthic predator that feeds mainly on small marine invertebrates such as crustaceans, molluscs, worms and echinoderms captured on or in the substrate. [5]
Like most wrasses, Halichoeres chrysus is a protogynous hermaphrodite, i.e. individuals start life as females with the capability of turning male later on.
On the IUCN Red List, Halichoeres chrysus is listed as a Least Concern Species. It is targeted but not thought to be threatened by the aquarium trade. [1]
