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 girdled wrasse, Notolabrus cinctus, is a species of wrasse native to the waters around the South Island and southeastern North Island of New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands and Snares Islands, where it can be found at depths from 15 to 91 m. The males of this species can reach 29.9 cm (11.8 in) in standard length, while the females only reach 29.1 cm (11.5 in). There are two colour phases with older fish developing a large, dusky belt around the body. This is not associated with changing sex which happens about three years after the development of the belt. They feed on molluscs and small crustacea. They occur on rocky reefs, where they are common.
The rainbow slender wrasse, also known as the painted rainbow wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. It is native to the western Pacific Ocean where it is found from Japan to Australia and east to New Zealand. It occurs on reefs at depths from 13 to 100 m, usually over patches of sand. This species can reach 13.5 cm (5.3 in) in total length.
The eight-lined wrasse is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae, which is native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It occurs on coral reefs at depths from 2 to 50 m, preferring to shelter in niches and caves. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The striated wrasse, also known as the disappearing wrasse, pinstripe wrasse or scarlet wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses. It has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The six-line wrasse is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae which has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution. This species is associated with coral reefs and can be found in the aquarium trade.
The pastel-green wrasse, also known as the black-blotched rainbowfish, black=blotched wrasse, dark-blotch wrasse or green-spotted wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the central western Pacific Ocean. It can be found on coral reefs and the surrounding areas at depths from the surface to 10 m (33 ft). Its coloration varies depending upon the habitat in which it occurs, ranging from bright green in fish living in areas with heavy algal growth to pale or with dark bars for those inhabiting rubble areas. This species can reach 19 cm (7.5 in) in standard length. It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade.
Macropharyngodon meleagris, the black-spotted wrasse, Eastern leopard wrasse or reticulated wrasse, is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses. This species is native to the eastern Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It lives on coral reefs at depths of from the surface to 30 metres (98 ft). This species can reach a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. Juveniles display different color patterns than adults with dominating light colors and eyespots blending in with soft coral habitats and potentially avoiding predation.
Thalassoma amblycephalum, the blunt-headed wrasse, blue-headed wrasse, blue-headed zoe, moon wrasse, paddle-fin wrasse or two-tone wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is a reef inhabitant, being found in schools at depths from 1 to 15 m. This species can reach 16 cm (6.3 in) in standard length. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The creole wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the western Atlantic Ocean.
The broomtail wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
The spotted wrasse, Anampses meleagrides, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean from the Red Sea and East Africa to the western Pacific Ocean to Samoa and the Tuamoto Islands and north to Japan. This species is found on coral reefs at depths of 3 to 60 m. It can reach a length of 22 cm (8.7 in). It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade.
The blue-spotted wrasse, Anampses caeruleopunctatus, is a species of wrasse found from the Atlantic coast of South Africa through the Indian Ocean to Japan and Australia east to Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean. This species is found at depths from 3 to 30 m, with the adults preferring the surge zone on coral reefs or along rocky coastlines. Juveniles orient their bodies and move in such a way as to resemble floating leaves. This species can reach a length of 42 cm (17 in). It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade.
Wetmorella is a genus of wrasses native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The nebulous wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It can be found in groups at depths from 1 to 40 m on reef flats. This species feeds on fish eggs and benthic invertebrates, including crabs, sea urchins, ophiuroids, polychaetes, sponges and mollusks. Its coloration varies, ranging from brown to dark green. This species can reach 12 cm (4.7 in) in total length. It can be found in the aquarium trade.
The tripletail wrasse is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses.
The blackeye thicklip wrasse or half-and-half wrasse is a species of fish belonging to the wrasse family. It is native to the Indo-Pacific.
Oxycheilinus mentalis is a species of wrasse found in the Western Indian Ocean, in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The snooty wrasse, also known as the red maori wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses. It is a widespread Indo-Pacific reef fish.
Stethojulis strigiventer, also known as the three-ribbon wrasse, silverstreak wrasse, silverbelly wrasse, lined rainbowfish or silver-streaked rainbowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. This species occurs in beds of seagrass and areas of inner reefs and shallow lagoons where there is a substrate consisting of mixed sand, rubble, and algae. It is found in small groups which swim over large areas down as deep as 20 metres (66 ft). The range of this species extends from the Red Sea southwards along the eastern coast of Africa to Algoa Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and eastwards to the Marshall and Tuamotu islands, it also extends north to Honshu and south to New South Wales. This species was first formally described as Julis strigiventer in 1833 by the English zoologist Edward Turner Bennett (1797-1836) with the type locality given as Mauritius. When Albert Günther created the genus Stethojulis he designated Julis strigiventer as the type species.
