| Hemigymnus melapterus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Labriformes |
| Family: | Labridae |
| Genus: | Hemigymnus |
| Species: | H. melapterus |
| Binomial name | |
| Hemigymnus melapterus (Bloch, 1791) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
The blackeye thicklip wrasse or half-and-half wrasse (Hemigymnus melapterus) is a species of fish belonging to the wrasse family. It is native to the Indo-Pacific.
The Half-and-half wrasse is a medium-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 50 cm.
Its body is high, relatively flattened, its head is large and its terminal mouth has thick lips. Its body coloration varies according to age. Juvenile wrasse have a greenish yellow background color with yellow vertical lines, a broad white diagonal band just behind the operculum, an orange caudal fin and a greenish gray front. Mature females are green behind the oblique line, with black-rimmed scales. A complex tangle of pink lines underlined with turquoise crosses from the top of the snout to the head. Mature males (terminal phase - see below) also have an emerald green stripe behind each scale and a blue rim around the eye; the top of the snout and head are green with pink patterns highlighted in turquoise. [3] [4]
The species is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, from the eastern coast of Africa including the Red Sea to Polynesia, and from New Caledonia to southern Japan. [1] [5] [6] It prefers areas of coral, coral rubble and sand, outer reef slopes and drop-offs, to depths of at least 40 m. [1] Juveniles are more secretive and always keep hidden in branching corals. [5]
The Half-and-half wrasse lives solitary or 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. [6] In addition to picking food off coral branches, it may take in mouthfuls of sand, sorting out food items in the mouth and then expelling the sand through the gill operculae. [1] Like most wrasse, it is a protogynous hermaphrodite, i.e. individuals start life as females with the capability of turning male later on. [6]
The species is targeted but not thought to be threatened by the aquarium trade, and is being sought as a food fish and by spear fishers. It is present in several large preotected areas, and currently listed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN. [1]
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, Napoleonfish, so mei 蘇眉 (Cantonese), mameng (Filipino), and merer in the Pohnpeian language of the Caroline Islands.
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.
The giant moray is a species of moray eel and a species of marine fish in the family Muraenidae. In terms of body mass, it is the largest moray eel; however, the slender giant moray is the largest in terms of body length.
Novaculichthys taeniourus, also known as the rockmover wrasse, carpet wrasse, dragon wrasse, bar-cheeked wrasse, olive-scribbled wrasse or reindeer wrasse, is a species of wrasse mainly found in coral reefs and lagoons in the Indo-Pacific region. These include habitats in the Gulf of California to Panama; tropical Pacific Ocean islands including Hawaii; the Philippines, Indonesia and Australia; and the Indian Ocean to the east coast of Africa. The common name, "rockmover wrasse", comes from their behavior of upending small stones and reef fragments in search of prey. This species is the only known member of its genus.
The bird wrasse, Gomphosus varius, is a species of the wrasse family.
Halichoeres chrysus, commonly called the canary wrasse, golden wrasse or yellow wrasse, is a fish species in the wrasse family native to central Indo-Pacific area.
The barred thicklip wrasse, Hemigymnus fasciatus, is a species of fish belonging to the wrasse family, native from the Indo-Pacific.
The blue-spotted spinefoot, the coral rabbitfish, coral spinefoot, ocellated spinefoot or orange spinefoot, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific where it is often caught as a food fish and occasionally as an aquarium fish.
Heniochus chrysostomus, also known as the threeband pennantfish, threeband bannerfish or pennant bannerfish, is a marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish from the family Chaetodontidae.It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
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 annulatus, the ring wrasse or ringed slender wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses, which has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution.
Hologymnosus doliatus, commonly called Pastel ringwrasse , is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Labridae, the wrasses, which is found in the Indo-Pacific area.
Pseudojuloides kaleidos, the Kaleidos wrasse or blue-nose wrasse, is a species of saltwater fish. It is an uncommon fish with a distribution in the Indian Ocean including off the Maldives east to Indonesia.
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.
Halichoeres scapularis, commonly called the Zigzag wrasse , is a fish species in the wrasse family native from the Indo-West Pacific.
Heniochus varius, the horned bannerfish or humphead bannerfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae, native from the central Indo-Pacific area.
Cirrhilabrus shutmani, also known as the magma fairy wrasse, was discovered by RVS Fishworld in 2016 living around the Didicas Volcano in the Babuyan Islands of the Philippines. The magma wrasse belongs to the family of 'Labridae', a colourful species of tropical and subtropical fish. The magma wrasse is found in tropical coral reef, within the depth range of 50–70 metres (160–230 ft). This species of fish usually inhabits steep slopes around coral reefs made up of loose rubble, however can be purchased within the aquariums 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.
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.
