Hawaiian cleaner wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus)

Scientific name: Labroides phthirophagus Randall, 1958

Hawaiian cleaner wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus)

The Hawaiian cleaner wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Eastern Central Pacific, Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Islands.

Biology

Found in most coral reef habitats except in the surge zone. Benthopelagic. Obligate cleaner, picks parasitic crustaceans from other fishes. Monogamous. Swims with a dancing-flitting motion. It spends the night resting in a balloon-like mucous cocoon.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Labroides phthirophagus
Family
Labridae (Wrasses)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
12.0
Depth range
0–90 m (0–295 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 90 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Eastern Central Pacific: Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Islands.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

More wrasses

See all wrasses

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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