Surge wrasse

Last updated

Surge wrasse
Thalassoma purpureum Reunion 2.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Labriformes
Family: Labridae
Genus: Thalassoma
Species:
T. purpureum
Binomial name
Thalassoma purpureum
(Forsskål, 1775)
Synonyms [2]
  • Scarus purpureusForsskål, 1775
  • Julis semicoeruleus Rüppell, 1835
  • Thalassoma semicoeruleus(Rüppell, 1835)
  • Julis umbrostygmaRüppell, 1835
  • Thalassoma umbrostygma(Rüppell, 1835)

The surge wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum), also known as the green-blocked wrasse, purple wrasse or red and green wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the southeast Atlantic Ocean through the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where it inhabits reefs and rocky coastlines in areas of heavy wave action at depths from the surface to 10 m (33 ft). This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries, is popular as a game fish, and can be found in the aquarium trade. [2]

Contents

Description

The surge wrasse has 8 spines and 12-14 soft rays in its dorsal fin while the anal fin has 3 spines and 10-12 soft rays. It can grow to 46 cm (18 in) in total length and 1.2 kg (2.6 lb) in weight. [2] It has a rather deep, laterally compressed body and a pair of caniniform teeth in the front of its bottom jaw. [3] This is a colourful species of wrasse in which the females are greenish with their snout marked with a dark red V. The males are greenish-blue in colour with two bright reddish stripes along their flanks and they have a large head with a blunt snout which is greenish-blue with pinkish-purple markings. It is very similar to the ladder wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum), especially the females, but the surge wrasse has a larger head and no spots on the head. [4]

Distribution

The surge wrasse has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution which extends marginally into the south-eastern Atlantic along the coast of South Africa. Its main distribution in the Indian Ocean extends from the Red Sea south to South Africa east through the Indian Ocean islands and coasts of Asia to the Pacific Ocean where it extends north to Japan and south to Lord Howe Island, Kermadec Islands, and Rapa Islands and east as far as Panama in the eastern Pacific. [1] [2]

Habitat and biology

The surge wrasse, as its name suggests, is found in the surge zone of outer reef flats and on the reef margins of coral and rocky reefs. [4] It is normally found in depths of less than 10 metres (33 ft). It lives groups of females which are spread out over large areas of reef and which are dominated by a few males which grow much larger than females. It is a carnivorous species which preys on small invertebrates such as crabs, sea urchins, brittlestars and molluscs, as well as small fishes and polychaete worms. [2] It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, females change sex to become males [4] and it is a pelagic spawner. [2]

Taxonomy and species description

The surge wrasse was first formally described as Scarus purpureus in 1775 by the Swedish explorer, orientalist and naturalist Peter Forsskål (1732-1763) who gave the type locality as Jeddah. [5] When William John Swainson was describing the genus Thalassoma in 1839 he designated Scarus purpureus as its type species. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marbled parrotfish</span> Species of fish

The marbled parrotfish, also known as the seagrass parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish from the family Scaridae and is the only known member of the genus Leptoscarus. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution and is also found in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. It is a coastal species found in beds of sea grass and seaweed.

<i>Thalassoma</i> Genus of fishes

Thalassoma is a genus of wrasses native to the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Many species occasionally make their way into the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christmas wrasse</span> Species of fish

The Christmas wrasse, also known as the ladder wrasse, green-barred wrasse or green-blocked wrasse, is a species of ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae which is native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It inhabits shallow reefs at depths from the surface to 10 m (33 ft). It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade.

<i>Variola</i> (fish) Genus of fishes

Variola, the lyretails, is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, groupers from the subfamily Epinephelinae, part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. They are found in the tropical Indo-Pacific and their distribution extends from the Red Sea to South Africa across the Indian Ocean and east to the islands of the central Pacific.

<i>Novaculichthys</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longnose hawkfish</span> Species of fish

The longnose hawkfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a hawkfish belonging to the family Cirrhitidae. It is found on tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, where it can be found at depths around 10 to 100 m. It prefers the steep outer slopes of the reefs amongst gorgonians and black corals. This species can reach 13 cm (5.1 in) in total length. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. It is currently the only known member in its genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exquisite wrasse</span> Species of fish

The exquisite wrasse is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses, which is native to reefs in the Indo-West Pacific region. It can be found in the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jansen's wrasse</span> Species of fish

Jansen's wrasse is a species of ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae which is native to the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. In the south-western Pacific Ocean it is replaced by sibling species black-barred wrasse. It can be found in the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sixbar wrasse</span> Species of fish

The sixbar wrasse or six-banded wrasse is a species of wrasse in the family Labridae, native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is an inhabitant of reef environments at depths from the surface down to 15 m (50 ft). This species can grow to 20 cm (8 in) in total length, though most individuals do not exceed 15 cm (6 in). It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can also be found in the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ornate wrasse</span> Species of fish

The ornate wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the rocky coasts of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries, is also popular as a game fish, and can be found in the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tubelip wrasse</span> Species of fish

The tubelip wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. This species occurs in lagoons and on coral reefs at depths from 0 to 20 m. This species grows to 17.5 cm (6.9 in) in total length. It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade. This species is the only known member of its genus.

<i>Gomphosus caeruleus</i> Species of bird wrasse

Gomphosus caeruleus, the green birdmouth wrasse, is a species of wrasse belonging to the family Labridae. It can be found in the aquarium trade.

<i>Scarus altipinnis</i> Species of fish

Scarus altipinnis, the filament-finned parrotfish, high-fin parrotfish or mini-fin parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish from the family Scaridae. It occurs in the tropical and subtropical Western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Hologymnosus annulatus</i> Species of fish

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.

<i>Hologymnosus doliatus</i> Species of fish

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.

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.

<i>Pictilabrus laticlavius</i> Species of fish

Pictilabrus laticlavius, the patrician wrasse, the senator wrasse, the green parrotfish or the purplebanded wrasse is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses. It is found in the eastern Indian Ocean and the south western Pacific Oceans off he temperate coasts of southern Australia.

<i>Pseudocoris heteroptera</i> Species of fish

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.

Pseudojuloides cerasinus, the smalltail wrasse or the pencil wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. It is found in the tropical Pacific Ocean and was previously considered to have a much wider distribution but the recognition of new species has reduced this wide range.

<i>Scarus psittacus</i> Species of fish

Scarus psittacus, the common parrotfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a parrotfish, in the family Scaridae. Other common names for this species include the palenose parrotfish, Batavian parrotfish and the rosy-cheek parrotfish. It has a wide distribution in the Indo-Pacific region where it is associated with coral reefs. This species is utilised as food. It is the type species of the genus Scarus.

References

  1. 1 2 Cabanban, A.; Pollard, D. (2010). "Thalassoma purpureum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T187746A8618843. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187746A8618843.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Thalassoma purpureum" in FishBase. August 2019 version.
  3. "Species: Thalassoma purpureum, Surge wrasse". Shorefishes. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Bray, D.J. (2018). "Thalassoma purpureum". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Archived from the original on 6 September 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  5. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Scarus purpureus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  6. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Thalossoma". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 2 February 2020.