Blackeye thicklip (Hemigymnus melapterus) fish species and information / pictures of Blackeye thicklip - Hemigymnus melapterus

Blackeye thicklip (Hemigymnus melapterus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Hemigymnus melapterus

Common Name
Blackeye thicklip

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Lips thick with age (Ref. 1623). Color varies drastically with age and sex (Ref. 48636). Juveniles and sub adults are almost white anteriorly and abruptly dark green and black posteriorly; those under about 8 cm have a bright yellow tail which slowly fades with growth (Ref. 1602). The colorful pink and blue facial markings around the eyes of juveniles spreads with growth to cover nearly the entire head of large adults (Ref. 1602).

Classification

Classified By
Bloch, 1791
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Perch-like fish (Perciformes)
Family
Wrasses (Labridae)

Distribution

Region
Indo-Pacific
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Micronesia, Samoa (Ref. 2334), and Polynesia (Ref. 9823).
Range
30°N - 32°S

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
24 °C
Water Temperature To
28 °C
Depth From - meters
1 m
Depth To - meters
30 m
Zone
reef-associated
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 9710), usually 5 - 30 m (Ref. 27115)
Trophic Level
3.34 s.e. 0.48 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
True
Is kept in Aquariums
True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
90.0 cm
Common Length
50.0 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Vulnerability
High vulnerability (64 of 100)
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Least Concern (LC)