HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesChristmas wrasse Christmas wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum) Scientific name: Thalassoma trilobatum Lacep?de, 1801 The Christmas wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, East Africa to the Pitcairn, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Tonga and Rapa. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12. The primary phase of this wrasse is almost indistinguishable from that of T. purpureum. But head of male T. trilobatum plain brown to orange or shaded with blue. Female most difficult and has a more spotted and shorter head. It lacks the 'V' on the snout that shows clearly on the T. purpureum. Initial phase with a diagonal dark red line below front of eye (Ref 9823).Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameThalassoma trilobatumFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length30.0Depth range0–10 m (0–33 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 10 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: East Africa to the Pitcairn, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Tonga and Rapa.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More wrassesFivestripe wrasseThalassoma quinquevittatumBicolor cleaner wrasseLabroides bicolorSurge wrasseThalassoma purpureumBlackspot cleaner wrasseLabroides pectoralisYellow-brown wrasseThalassoma lutescensMoon wrasseThalassoma lunareSee 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