Chiseltooth Razorfish

Scientific Name: Pseudodax mollucanus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 25cm
Identification: TP - Blue-green undercolor with dark spots on scales, orange-red to rust wash on forebody and back, yellow upper lip; pale yellow bar on tail base.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Seaward reefs, including steep outer slopes in 3-40m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to French Polynesia. S. Japan to Australia.

Whitepatch Razorfish

Scientific Name: Iniistius aneitensis
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 24cm
Identification: TP - Steep blunt snout; pale grey; large white patch on lower forebody, may display 3-4 dusky bars.
Favourite: Dive into sand when alarmed and to sleep at night.
Hide-out: Open sand areas near reefs in 12-92m.
Location: Indo-West Pacific - Chagos Is. to Hawaii. S.W. Japan and Micronesia to Australia.

Peacock Razorfish

Scientific Name: Iniistius pavo
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 35cm
Identification: TP - Steep blunt head; light gray; whitish patch on lower forebody with one or two black spots above, may display dusky bars.
Favourite: Solitary; dive into sand when alarmed and to sleep at night.
Hide-out: Open sand areas near reefs in 20-100m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Hawaii, French Polynesia and Central America. S. Japan to Australia.

Fivefinger Razorfish

Scientific Name: Iniistius pentadactylus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 25cm
Identification: TP - Greenish gray; 4-5 overlapping red spots (appear dark underwater) above pectoral fin, often whitish area followed by a dark blotch on forebody; steep blunt head.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Sand to mud slopes to 30m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Australia and Papua New Guinea, north to S. Japan.

Celebes Razorfish

Scientific Name: Iniistius celebicus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 25cm
Identification: TP - Pale gray back and white below; large black patch on mid-forebody, horizontally elongate black streak on tail base.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Open over sand areas near reefs in 5-20m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Indonesia and Philippines to Taiwan and Marshall Is. in Micronesia.

Blackbarred Razorfish

Scientific Name: Iniistius tetrazona
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 25cm
Identification: IP - White with 4-5 dark bars or blotches, 1st 2 dorsal rays form small separated pennant.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups.
Hide-out: Coastal sand slopes to 20m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Indonesia to Philippines.

Knife Razorfish

Scientific Name: Cymolutes praetextatus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 20cm
Identification: Blunt snout; white, often with green to brown tint; faint irregular brown bars with white line running down back, may display broad yellow stripe.
Favourite: Solitary; dive into sand when alarmed and to sleep at night.
Hide-out: Extensive sand or weedy areas near reefs or lagoons in 2-10m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to French Polynesia.

Collared Razorfish

Scientific Name: Cymolutes torquatus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 12cm
Identification: TP - Blunt snout; pale green to brown with numerous thin body bars; slanting dark bars just above pectoral fin 'collar'.
Favourite: Solitary; dive into sand when alarmed and to sleep at night.
Hide-out: Extensive sand bottoms near reefs or lagoons in 2-15m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific - E. Africa to Papua New Guinea. S. Japan to Australia.

Seagrass Razorfish

Scientific Name: Novaculichthys macrolepidotus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 15cm
Identification: TP - Bright green with dark band and lines radiating from eye; several black spots usually just before tail base.
Favourite: Form aggregations in seagrass and weed beds.
Hide-out: Lagoons and coastal areas to 5m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Micronesia and New Guinea. S.W. Japan to S.E. Australia and Lord Howe I.

Rockmover Wrasse

Scientific Name: Novaculichthys taeniourus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 27cm
Identification: TP/IP - Pale gray head, dark brown to black body with pale spot on each scale; white bar on tail base, may display lines radiating from eye.
Favourite: Solitary; turn over rocks in search of prey.
Hide-out: Rubble bottoms next to reefs to 20m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Micronesia, Hawaii, French Polynesia and Panama. S.W. Japan to Australia.