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 and Heliofungia actiniformis.
Zebrasoma desjardinii, the Red Sea sailfin tang, Desjardin's sailfin tang, Indian sailfin tang or Indian sailfin surgeonfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This fish is found in the Indian Ocean.
The comb wrasse or combfish is a species of wrasse of the genus Coris, native to the western Pacific Ocean off eastern Australia and around offshore islands off north eastern New Zealand. This species can be found in areas with sandy substrates around rock reefs at depths from 3 to 25 m. It can reach 25 cm (9.8 in) in total length. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The orange wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the Pacific Ocean from Australia to New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands. It is found in inshore waters at depths from 10 to 50 metres. It can reach a length of 17 centimetres (6.7 in) SL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Sandager's wrasse is a species of wrasse native to the southwestern Pacific Ocean from Australia to New Zealand and the Kermadec Islands. This species can be found on reefs down to depths of about 60 metres (200 ft). It can reach a length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.
Coris is a genus of wrasses, collectively known as the rainbow wrasses, found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.
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 Mediterranean rainbow wrasse is a small, colourful fish in the family Labridae. It can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and in the northeast Atlantic Ocean from Sweden to Senegal. Records of this species south from Senegal and the Cape Verde Islands are actually the closely related Coris atlantica.
Bodianus mesothorax, the split-level hogfish, blackbelt hogfish, black-belt hogfish, coral hogfish, eclipse hogfish, eclipse pigfish, mesothorax hogfish or yellow-spotted hogfish, is a species of wrasse native to the western Pacific Ocean and the eastern Indian Ocean.
Bodianus bilunulatus, the tarry hogfish, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean from the African coast to the western Pacific Ocean to Japan, New Caledonia, and the Philippines.
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.
The queen coris, also known as the sand wrasse, Queen coris wrasse, Formosan coris, Formosa coris wrasse, Formosa wrasse, Indian Ocean wrasse or Indian sand wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean from the Red Sea and the coast of east Africa to Sri Lanka. This species appears in the aquarium trade due to its vibrant colors. A special feature about this species is how much they change from juvenile to adult form, in color, behaviour, and diet.
Coris gaimard, the yellowtail wrasse or African coris, among other vernacular names, is a species of wrasse native to the tropical waters of the central Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, from Christmas Islands and Cocos Keeling Islands to the Society Islands, Hawaii, and from Japan to Australia. It is an inhabitant of coral reefs, being found in areas that offer a mix of sand patches, rubble, and coral at depths from 1 to 50 m. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade and is popular species for display in public aquaria.
The saddle wrasse, also known as Hīnālea Lauwili in Hawaiʻi, is a species of wrasse native to the waters around the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island. They are found on reefs at depths from 5 to 25 m. This species can reach 28 cm (11 in) in total length. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.
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.
The blue-spotted wrasse 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.
Coris batuensis, the Batu coris, also known as the Batu rainbow-wrasse, the variegated wrasse, the dapple coris, pallid wrasse, Schroeder's coris, Schroeder's rainbow wrasse, variegated rainbowfish or yellow wrasse, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean from the African coast to the Marshall Islands and from southern Japan to Australia's Great Barrier Reef and Tonga. This species is an inhabitant of coral reefs and surrounding areas at depths from 2 to 30 m, though it is rarer deeper than 15 m (49 ft). It can reach 17 cm (6.7 in) in total length. It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can also be found in the aquarium trade.
The seagrass wrasse, Novaculoides macrolepidotus, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It can be found in lagoons and mangrove forests in seagrass beds or on sandy areas with plentiful algal growth. It occurs at depths from the surface to 10 m (33 ft). This species grows to 16 cm (6.3 in) in total length. It can be found in the aquarium trade. This species is the only known member of its genus. The juveniles and smaller adults of this species are Batesian mimics of the venomous waspfish in the genus Ablabys. When threatened, these fish dive headfirst into the sea grass or sea weed beds they inhabit.
The chiseltooth wrasse is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a wrasse from the family Labridae. It is native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is an inhabitant of coral reefs and can be found at depths from 3 to 60 m, though rarely deeper than 40 m (130 ft). This species grows to 30 cm (12 in) in total length. It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade. P. moluccanus is the only known member of its genus.
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.
