Scientific Name
Thalassoma bifasciatum
Common Name
Bluehead
Biology
Dorsal
spines
(total): 8;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 12-13;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 10 - 11. Body elongate; 3 primary color phases, the smallest with a black mid-lateral stripe which continues as pale red blotches on head; back above stripe yellow on reef fish and whitish on fish from inshore non-reef areas, and body below white. The largest phase, has a bright blue head and a green body with two broad vertical black bars anteriorly which are separated by a light blue interspace; this phase is always male. The small yellow phase with the black stripe may be either male or female (Ref. 13442).