Magenta-Streaked Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus laboutei
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 11cm
Identification: TP - Pattern of curved red and yellow-orange lines on upper body, white below; diagonal magenta band at pectoral fin base.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups.
Hide-out: Rubble bottoms near coral reefs in 8-55m.
Location: Localized - Coral Sea, New Caledonia including Loyalty Is, Vanuatu and Fiji.

Angular Flasher

Scientific Name: Paracheilinus angulatus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 7cm
Identification: TP - Red with magenta stripes; elongate rear dorsal and anal fins give an angular profile.
Favourite: Form aggregations.
Hide-out: Rubble bottoms of seaward reefs and lagoons in 10-40m.
Location: Asian Pacific - N.E. Kalimantan (Borneo) in Indonesia and Philippines.

Irian Jaya Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus tonozukai
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 7cm
Identification: TP - Red upper body, white below with short filament extends from mid-dorsal fin.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups.
Hide-out: Rubble areas near seaward reefs in 15-40m.
Location: Localized - Gulf of Tomini and Lembeh Straits on E. Sulawesi and Irian Jaya in Indonesia.

Fiji Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus sp.
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 13cm
Identification: TP - Overall purple-brown with white on lower head and body; dorsal and anal fins with blackish base and red outer portion with narrow blue margin; caudal fin yellowish with blue spots.
Favourite: Usually in groups.
Hide-out: Rubble bottoms in about 10-30m.
Location: Localized - Known only from Fiji.

Coral Sea Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 11cm
Identification: TP - Red upper body, yellowish to white below; purplish dorsal fin with broad black border and black blotch on front. Undescribed species.
Favourite: Form aggregations over rubble bottoms.
Hide-out: Outer reefs in 5-30m.
Location: Localized - Coral Sea, off N.E. Australia.

Bluesided Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 10cm
Identification: TP - Blue to blue-green upper head and forebody, orange to brown to green rear body, pale belly.
Favourite: Solitary or form aggregations.
Hide-out: Mixed coral and rubble areas of lagoons and seaward slopes in 2-25m.
Location: East Indo-Asian Pacific - E. Andaman Sea to Papua New Guinea. S.W. Japan to N.W. Australia and Great Barrier Reef.

Backstriped Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cirrhilabrus katherinae
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 9cm
Identification: TP - Reddish to greenish brown with greenish stripe centered on back, pale belly; blue dorsal and anal fins with lavender borders.
Favourite: Solitary or form aggregations.
Hide-out: Patch reefs on outer reef slopes and in clear lagoons in 10-40m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Micronesia from Palau to Pohnpei and Ryukyu and Izu Is. south of Japan.

Zamboanga Tuskfish

Scientific Name: Choerodon zamboangae
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 45cm
Identification: Blue markings on chin and under eye, dark wedge-shaped marking on side has pronounced reddish-brown hue.
Favourite: Solitary or small groups.
Hide-out: Sand rubble areas near coastal and lagoon reefs in 30-60m.
Location: West Pacific - Northwestern Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and Philippines to Ryukyu Islands.

Whitespot Tuskfish

Scientific Name: Choerodon monostigma
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 25cm
Identification: Greenish back gradating to yellow below; black spot on back, large white spot below rear dorsal fin.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups.
Hide-out: Sand and rubble bottoms in 10-40m.
Location: N. Australia and New Guinea.

Singapore Tuskfish

Scientific Name: Choerodon oligacanthus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 35cm
Identification: Tan; pale yellow stripes on lower body, elongate white patch on middle of back, small black spot on tail base.
Favourite: Solitary or in pairs.
Hide-out: Sand and rubble bottoms next to coastal reefs in 2-15m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Singapore, Malaysian Penninsula, Indonesia and Philippines.

Harlequin Tuskfish

Scientific Name: Choerodon fasciatus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 30cm
Identification: White undercolor, rear body becomes dark with age; 6-9 blue edged orange bars extend from head to tail base, tail white with orangish margin.
Favourite: Solitary, territorial and often in caves.
Hide-out: Coastal outer reefs to 15m.
Location: Two separate ranges - Taiwan and S.W. Japan to Palau. Also Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.

Graphic Tuskfish

Scientific Name: Choerodon graphicus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 46cm
Identification: Tan to yellow undercolor; dark irregular spoke-like markings radiating from eye, dark inter-connected bars on sides.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Sand and rubble patches of coastal, lagoon and seaward reefs in 2-30m.
Location: Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.

Darkstripe Tuskfish

Scientific Name: Choerodon vitta
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 20cm
Identification: Light gray to yellowish with yellow head; dark mid-lateral stripe, dark spot on tail base.
Favourite: Solitary or form small groups.
Hide-out: Flat sand and rubble bottoms in vicinity of coastal reefs in 10-40m.
Location: Aru Is. in Indonesia, New Guinea and N. Australia.

Blue Tuskfish

Scientific Name: Choerodon cyanodus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 70cm
Identification: Shades of gray often with yellowish or greenish tints; white chin and white spot on rear back, frequently display 4-5 faint bars on back.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Sand and rubble areas near coastal reefs in 2-35m.
Location: Indo-West Pacific - Sri Lanka to Papua New Guinea. S.W. Japan to Australia and New Caledonia.

Tripletail Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cheilinus trilobatus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 45cm
Identification: TP - Shades of green; ornate pattern of pink lines and spots cover head, two white to whitish bars on tail base; rounded tail fin with protruding upper and lower lobes.
Favourite: Solitary and wary.
Hide-out: Lagoons, passes and outer reefs to 30m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to Micronesia and Tuamotu Is. in French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Australia and New Caledonia.

Redbreasted Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cheilinus fasciatus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 36cm
Identification: Red-orange rear head and forebody; alternating white and blackish bars on body and tail.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Mixed sand, rubble and coral areas of lagoons and coastal reefs in 3-40m.
Location: Indo-West Pacific - Red Sea to Micronesia and Samoa. S.W. Japan to E. Australia and New Caledonia.

Humphead Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cheilinus undulatus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 229cm
Identification: TP - Blue head with maze-like markings, green body with dark vertical streaks; pronounced hump above eyes.
Favourite: Solitary or occasionally in pairs; wary.
Hide-out: Lagoon and outer reefs to 60m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Micronesia and Tuamotu Is. in French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Australia and New Caledonia.

Floral Wrasse

Scientific Name: Cheilinus chlorourus
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 36cm
Identification: Highly variable from orange-brown to green-brown; usually prominent horizontal rows of pink or white dots, often white to whitish blotches on back and tail.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Mixed sand, rubble and coral areas of lagoons and coastal reefs in 2-30m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to Micronesia and Tuamotu, Marquesas and Rapa Is. in French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to E. Australia.

Philippine Wrasse

Scientific Name: Pseudocoris bleekeri
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 15cm
Identification: TP - Green with combination of dark bars; elongate spots and saddles, yellow patch on middle of side.
Hide-out: Rubble and coral slopes of seaward reefs in 10-30m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Bali to Moluccan Is. in Indonesia, Philippines and S.W. Japan.

Redspot Wrasse

Scientific Name: Pseudocoris yamashiroi
Family: Wrasses - Labridae
Maximum Size: 15cm
Identification: TP - Shades of green with white belly; black spots and blotches on green areas, black borders on tail.
Favourite: Form aggregations above bottom.
Hide-out: Edge of reef slopes in 5-30m.
Location: Indo-West Pacific - E. Africa to Australia and Samoa. S. Japan to Kermadec Is.