Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)

Scientific name: Cheilinus undulatus R?ppell, 1835

Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)

The Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae.

Biology

Inhabit steep outer reef slopes, channel slopes, and lagoon reefs. Benthopelagic at 2-60 m. Usually solitary but may occur in pairs. Juveniles are encountered in coral-rich areas of lagoon reefs, where staghorn Acropora corals abound; also in algae reefs or seagrasses. Adults rove across the reefs by day and rest in reef caves and under coral ledges at night. Primary food are mollusks, fishes, sea urchins, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. One of the few predators of toxic animals such as sea hares, boxfishes and crown-of-thorns starfish. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Found in Hong Kong live fish markets.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Cheilinus undulatus
Family
Labridae (Wrasses)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
229
Common length
60.0
Depth range
1–100 m (3–328 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 100 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa and to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia. Formerly known as Vulnerable (A1d+2cd) (Y. Sadovy) but now listed as Endangered in IUCN 2004 and listed in Appendix II of CITES.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Endangered (EN) (A2bd+3bd), IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm = 5-7; tmax = 32)

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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