HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesFalse leopard False leopard (Macropharyngodon ornatus) Scientific name: Macropharyngodon ornatus Randall, 1978 The False leopard (Macropharyngodon ornatus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, Sri Lanka, western Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea. BiologyDorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal soft rays: 11. Brown to greenish with pearly to metallic-green spots along scale rows. Females reddish anteriorly, shading to blackish posteriorly, with greenish yellow spots edged in blue and black (1 per scale) on body and similar spots and irregular bands on head. Males similar in colour to females, with no black humeral spot (Ref 9823).Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameMacropharyngodon ornatusFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length13.0Depth range3–30 m (10–98 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 3 - 30 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Sri Lanka, western Australia, Indonesia and New Guinea.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More wrassesHarlequin tuskfishChoerodon fasciatusScott's wrasseCirrhilabrus scottorumDoubleheaderCoris bulbifronsYellow-tail parrotfishScarus hypselopterusBlackfin hogfishBodianus loxozonusCheckerboard wrasseHalichoeres hortulanusSee 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