HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesBlackear wrasse Blackear wrasse (Halichoeres poeyi) Scientific name: Halichoeres poeyi Steindachner, 1867 The Blackear wrasse (Halichoeres poeyi) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Western Atlantic, southern Florida, USA and the Bahamas to S?o Paulo, Brazil. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12. Small individuals yellowish green with a black spot, edged in light red, behind eye; a small black spot at rear base of dorsal fin. Large adult males are dull green, the centers of the scales with a dull orange red spot; caudal fin with a median longitudinal and upper and lower diagonal converging blue-edged rose bands.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameHalichoeres poeyiFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length20.0Depth range1–15 m (3–49 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 15 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Atlantic: southern Florida, USA and the Bahamas to S?o Paulo, Brazil.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More wrassesRainbow wrasseHalichoeres pictusRock wrasseHalichoeres semicinctusClown wrasseHalichoeres maculipinnaRosy razorfishXyrichtys martinicensisYellowhead wrasseHalichoeres garnotiGreen razorfishXyrichtys splendensSee all wrasses SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026