Feminine Wrasse

Scientific Name: Anampses femininus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 24cm
Identification: TP - Dusky yellow to greenish brown body with blue linemarkings on scales, dark tail with blue markings, dark head with blue stripes.
Favourite: Form small groups.
Hide-out: Coral and rocky reefs in 10-30m.
Location: Southern Pacific - S. Pacific from S.E. Australia to Easter I. in southeastern Pacific.

Elegant Wrasse

Scientific Name: Anampses elegans
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 30cm
Identification: IP - Yellowish brown upper body with horizontal rows of small blue spots, abruptly white below.
Favourite: Form small groups.
Hide-out: Coral or rocky reefs in 10-40m.
Location: Southwestern Pacific - New South Wales, Lord Howe I. and N. New Zealand.

Blue-Spotted Wrasse

Scientific Name: Anampses caeruleopunctatus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 42cm
Identification: TP - Green to brownish green with blue to blue-green vertical streak on each scale; yellow to lime-green bar on forebody.
Favourite: Solitary or with one or more females. Solitary or in pairs; bury in sand at night.
Hide-out: Shallow coral or rocky reefs to 30m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Easter Is. in southeastern Pacific.

Ornate Wrasse

Scientific Name: Macropharyngodon ornatus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 12cm
Identification: TP - Black body with blue spot on each scale; head and fins orange with dark-edged blue bands.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups.
Hide-out: Sand and rubble bottoms of coral reefs in 3-30m.
Location: East Indo-West Pacific - Andaman Sea to Samoa. S.W. Japan to Australia.

Leopard Wrasse

Scientific Name: Macropharyngodon meleagris
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 15cm
Identification: TP - Dull orange-red to purple or green undercolor with black or blue-edged green spot on each body scale; blue edged green bands on head, small black spot above pectoral.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups.
Hide-out: Coral and rubble bottoms in 2-30m.
Location: East Indo-Pacific - Cocos-Keeling Is. to Micronesia, Line and Pitcaim Is. (absent Indonesia). S. Japan and S.E. Australia.

Kuiter's Wrasse

Scientific Name: Macropharyngodon kuiteri
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 10cm
Identification: TP - Whitish with orange scale margins; pale-edged black spot on rear gill cover; green bands on head.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups.
Hide-out: Base of dropoffs in deeper water.
Location: Southwestern Pacific - S. Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia to New South Wales in S.E. Australia.

Choat's Wrasse

Scientific Name: Macropharyngodon choati
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 10cm
Identification: TP - White with red blotches and red stripes on lower head; large dark spot surrounded by yellow on gill cover.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups.
Hide-out: Lagoons, passes and seaward reefs in 6-28m.
Location: Localized - S. Great Barrier Reef to N. New South Wales in Australia.

Black Leopard Wrasse

Scientific Name: Macropharyngodon negrosensis
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 15cm
Identification: TP - Black with translucent tail that may have dark borders; several pale saddle blotches on back and band markings on head.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups.
Hide-out: Mixed sand, rubble and coral areas in 8-32m.
Location: East Indo-West Pacific - Andaman Sea to Philippines and Samoa. S.W. Japan to S.E. Australia.

Yellowfin Fairy Flasher

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 6.5cm
Identification: TP - White to pinkish with red upper head; 2 wide red bars on forebody, broad yellow margin on dorsal fin.
Hide-out: Rubble bottoms among coral patches in 12-30m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Indonesia and Philippines.

Yellowband Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus luteovittatus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 12cm
Identification: TP - Variable with maroon to red head and upper body, red to violet belly; broad pale red to yellow stripe from pectoral fin to tail base, black wedge-shaped mark below pectoral fin base.
Favourite: Form aggregations.
Hide-out: Rubble around lagoon patch reefs in 7-30m.
Location: Localized - E. Caroline and Marshall Is. in Micronesia (rare at Johnston Atoll).

Yellowback Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus lubbocki
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 8cm
Identification: TP - Orange to yellow upper head, back and dorsal fin, purplish white below; row of maroon to purple spots on back and another on middle of tail base with white stripe between.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups.
Hide-out: Rubble bottoms next to seaward coral reefs in 4-45m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Indonesia and Philippines.

Walindi Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus walindi
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 7cm
Identification: TP - Pink with yellow wash on back; dorsal, anal and ventral fins yellowish with blue or magenta borders, two black blotches on dorsal fin.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups.
Hide-out: Rubble bottoms next to coral patches on seaward slopes in 10-65m.
Location: Localized - Papua New Guinea and Solomon Is.

Solor Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus solorensis
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 12cm
Identification: TP - Upper body orange in highly variable amounts, head and lower body violet to lavender.
Favourite: Solitary or with several females.
Hide-out: Rubble areas near coral reefs in 5-35m.
Location: Localized - Indonesia.

Samoa Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus walshi
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 10cm
Identification: TP - Blotchy orange-red with yellowish underside, yellowish dorsal fin and red tail with white spotted borders.
Favourite: Form aggregations over rubble bottoms.
Hide-out: Seaward reefs in 5-30m.
Location: Localized - Known only from Samoa.

Rhomboid Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus rhomboidalis
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 8.5cm
Identification: TP - Yellow-orange body; blue wavy lines and thin stripes on head and forebody.
Favourite: Form groups.
Hide-out: Sand and rubble patches of outer reefs in 35-50m.
Location: Localized - Kwajalein Atoll in Marshall Is, Micronesia.

Redtailed Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus scottorum
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 12cm
Identification: TP - Shades of green with pale yellow to reddish underside; red to reddish tail, red to yellow dorsal fin and dark blue anal fin; black speckles on upper forebody.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups.
Hide-out: Coral or rubble of outer slopes in 3-40m.
Location: South Pacific - Coral Sea to Society and Tuamotu Is. in French Polynesia and east to Pitcaim Is.

Redfin Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 8cm
Identification: TP - Brownish red with pale red to white belly, brilliant scarlet dorsal, anal and ventral fins.
Favourite: Form groups.
Hide-out: Rubble and coral areas at base of coastal reef slopes in 20-40m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Kalimantan (Borneo) and N. Sulawesi in Indonesia and Philippines.

Randall's Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus randalli
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 11cm
Identification: Blue head with magenta back, violet belly and tail, broad yellow-orange stripe on side; rounded tail.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups.
Hide-out: Rubble bottoms of lagoons and outer reefs in 10-40m.
Location: Localized - Offshore reefs of N.W. Australia.

Rainbow Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus cenderawasih
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 9cm
Identification: TP - Pinkish with broad yellow streak on middle and 4-5 large black blotches on upper side.
Hide-out: Rubble bottoms at base of slopes of seaward reefs in 22-60m.
Location: Localized - Known only from Cenderawasih Bay, Papua Province, Indonesia.

Purple-Lined Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus lineatus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 12cm
Identification: TP - Pale purple to magenta body; dorsal, anal and tail fins yellow to orange with blue spots; bright blue lines and spots on head and forebody.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups.
Hide-out: Rubble bottoms near reefs in 8-55m.
Location: Localized - Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, New Caledonia and Loyalty Is.