Moon wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) fish species and information / pictures of Moon wrasse - Thalassoma lunare

Moon wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) fish species information

Scientific Name
Thalassoma lunare

Common Name
Moon wrasse

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Adults are identified by the yellow lunate tail. Large males turn blue on the head that grades to green towards the tail (Ref. 48636). Body dark green to blue with vertical red to purplish red lines. Head green to blue with irregular pink to violet bands. Adults with large yellow crescent posteriorly in caudal fin and blue pectoral fins with a large elongate pink area distally. Juveniles with a large dark spot in middle of dorsal fin and a large diffuse black spot at base of caudal fin (Ref 9823).

Classification

Classified By
Linnaeus, 1758
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 (Ref. 4392) to the Line Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island and northern New Zealand (Ref. 1602). Reported to have formed a hybrid with Thalassoma rueppellii (Ref. 41655).
Range
30°N - 32°S

Environment

Climate
Subtropical
Water Temperature From
24 °C
Water Temperature To
28 °C
Depth From - meters
1 m
Depth To - meters
20 m
Zone
reef-associated
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 20 m (Ref. 9823), usually 1 - 20 m (Ref. 27115)
Trophic Level
3.48 s.e. 0.56 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
45.0 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (35 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Least Concern (LC)