Pink-belly wrasse (Halichoeres margaritaceus)

Scientific name: Halichoeres margaritaceus Valenciennes, 1839

Pink-belly wrasse (Halichoeres margaritaceus)

The Pink-belly wrasse (Halichoeres margaritaceus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Females olivaceous on back, the scale edges dark brown, pale ventrally, with whitish blotches of unequal size and a large pink area posteriorly on the abdomen; a black spot on opercular flap, small one behind eye, one at front of dorsal fin and a large one rimmed in yellow or blue in middle of fin; no black spot at upper base of pectoral fins; males green with orange-red spots, some linked to form irregular markings, the white blotches and large pink area on abdomen lost, and the black spots lost or reduced. Males are distinguished by different cheek patterns. In this species, it has a near horizontal pink band below the eye.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Halichoeres margaritaceus
Family
Labridae (Wrasses)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
12.5
Depth range
0–5 m (0–16 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 5 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: Cocos Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales and Lord Howe Island. Replaced by Halichoeres nebulosus in the western Indian Ocean.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
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.

Last updated