The julidine wrasses are saltwater fish of the tribe Julidini, a subgroup of the wrasse family (Labridae). It contains the highest number of genera and species out of all the wrasse tribes, with 20 genera and over 200 species,[1] comprising almost a third of all wrasse species.[2]
A 2005 molecular phylogenetic analysis strongly supports the monophyly of Julidini.[1][2]
It also found that the cleaner wrasse genera that traditionally comprised the tribe Labrichthyini (Labrichthys, Labropsis, Diproctacanthus, Larabicus, and Labroides), although forming a monophyletic group, were all nested within Julidini. Labrichthys is the sister group to the other cleaner wrasse genera,[1][2] and does not act as a cleaner; it is an obligate corallivore for its entire life.[3]Larabicus, Diproctacanthus, and Labropsis are cleaners only as juveniles and feed on corals as adults, while Labroides is a cleaner for its entire life.[3][4][5]
The tribe Pseudolabrini is likely the sister group of Julidini, if not nested within Julidini; the former is additionally supported by Hughes et al 2023.[1][2]
The difficulty in resolving relationships within Julidini is a result of the rapid speciation of julidine wrasses.[2]
Evolution
The tribe Julidini likely originated in the Eocene. It is hypothesized that the relatively warm and stable climate that followed the Early Eocene Climactic Optimum may have played a part in the diversification of julidine wrasses. Fossil julidine wrasses such as †Coris sigismundi have been found in rocks dating to the Miocene.[2]
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