Scientific Name
Halichoeres melanurus

Common Name
Tail-spot wrasse

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 25. Stripes on male body blue-green and orangish in life, becoming salmon pink and green anteriorly; a dark spot behind eye contained within a brown band that bifurcates posteriorly. Females with a small black spot on 1st interspinous membrane of dorsal fin, another between 2nd-3rd soft rays; a spot at the upper base of caudal fin. Anterior lateral line scales with 1-4 pores (usually 2). Pelvic fins of males reaching to or beyond the anus.

Classification

Classified By

Bleeker, 1851

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Wrasses (Labridae)

Distribution

Region

Western Pacific

Distribution

Western Pacific: Japan (Ref. 559) south to the Great Barrier Reef (Ref. 2334) and east to Samoa (Ref. 592) and Tonga (Ref. 53797). Replaced by Halichoeres vrolikii in the Indian Ocean (Ref. 37816).

Range

30°N - 30°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - ? m (Ref. 9710)

Trophic Level

3.15 s.e. 0.46 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

12.0 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

Aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (23 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)