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 & Heliofungia actiniformis.
The slippery dick is a species of wrasse native to shallow, tropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.
The checkerboard wrasse is a fish belonging to the wrasse family. It is native to the area including the Indian Ocean to central Pacific Ocean.
Halichoeres, commonly called wrasses, are a genus of fish in the family Labridae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The triplespot wrasse, also known as the white wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the western Indian Ocean from South Africa to the Maldives and Mauritius. This species prefers areas of sandy substrates around reefs and can be found at depths from 15 to 56 m. It can reach 9.5 cm (3.7 in) in total length.
Halichoeres iridis is a species of wrasse native to the western Indian Ocean along the African coast and nearby islands. It can be found in areas of rubble and sand around reefs at depths from 6 to 43 m. This species can reach 11.5 cm (4.5 in) in total length. It can be found in the aquarium trade.
The yellowhead wrasse is a fish species belonging to wrasse family native to shallow tropical waters in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean.
The red-lined wrasse, two-spotted wrasse or biocellated wrasse, Halichoeres biocellatus, is a species of wrasse native to shallow tropical waters in the western Pacific Ocean.
The black wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Pacific Ocean around Cocos Island, the Revillagigedo Islands, Tres Marias Islands, and the Galapagos. This species prefers areas with rocky bottoms at depths from 1 to 3 m. It can reach 12.5 cm (4.9 in) in total length.
Halichoeres maculipinna, the clown wrasse, is a species of tropical fish that lives throughout the Caribbean Sea and adjacent parts of the western Atlantic Ocean. It is a carnivorous, multi-colored wrasse that is common throughout its range.
Macropharyngodon geoffroy, also known as the Geoffroy's wrasse, is a member of the wrasse family endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a length of 13 cm (5.1 in). This benthopelagic species occurs in areas of mixed sand, rubble, and coral on seaward reefs where it feeds mostly on molluscs, especially prosobranch gastropods) and foraminiferans. Macropharyngodon geoffroy is the type species of the genus Macropharyngodon.
Halichoeres leucurus is a marine fish commonly known as greyhead wrasse. They are harmless to humans and have a size of around 9–13 cm.
Halichoeres prosopeion, commonly called the twotone wrasse, half-grey wrasse or zig-zag wrasse, is a fish species in the wrasse family native to the western Pacific Ocean.
Halichoeres richmondi, commonly called the Richmond's wrasse or chain-lined wrasse, is a fish species in the wrasse family native from the central Indo-Pacific.
The blackear wrasse is a species of wrasse, a type of fish in the family Labridae, from the warmer waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.
Pseudocoris heteroptera, the torpedo wrasse or zebra wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean where it is associated with reefs.
Halichoeres rubrovirens, the red-green wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the western Atlantic Ocean, being found in the islands of Trindade and Martim Vaz in southeastern Brazil. It's found on rocky reefs at depths of 5-30m, and juveniles seem to mimic and usually school together with Thalassoma noronhanum which they resemble in color. They are not genetically close to any other species of Halichoeres in the Atlantic, and are likely a relict species.
Halichoeres burekae, the Mardi Gras wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Gulf of Mexico. The species was first described from the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, but has since been recorded in other areas of the southern Gulf of Mexico. Because it is a small species that feeds on plankton in the water column, it is likely a preferred prey for invasive Lionfish. It also has a very restricted range, and corresponding relatively small population, what resulted in this species being listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List.
Halichoeres claudia, the Christmas wrasse, is a species of wrasse of the family Labridae. It is widely distributed in the southwestern Pacific, occurring from French Polynesia to the Great Barrier Reef, with isolated populations in the Indian Ocean. This species was treated as Halichoeres ornatissimus for a long time, however, genetic evidence has shown that H. ornatissimus is restricted to Hawaii, while H. claudia is widespread in the western Pacific. The species was named in honor of Claudia Rocha for her contributions to ichthyology.
Halichoeres sazimai, Sazima's wrasse, is a species of fish in the family Labridae found in deeper (20m+) and cooler waters off southeastern Brazil. It's closely related to the north Atlantic species Halichoeres bathyphillus, but DNA evidence shows they are different. They are often found in small groups of 5-10 individuals around rocky reefs.
