HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesRock wrasse Rock wrasse (Halichoeres semicinctus) Scientific name: Halichoeres semicinctus Ayres, 1859 The Rock wrasse (Halichoeres semicinctus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Point Conception in California, USA to Guadalupe Island (off north-central Baja California) and the Gulf of California in Mexico. BiologyFound close to rocks near patches of sand and in tide pools. Dart into sand when disturbed and sleep at night buried in sand with head protruding. Feed on gastropods, small crustaceans and has been observed to pick ectoparasites from other fishes. Each individual functions first as female but changes to a male at length of about 30 cm. Pelagic spawners.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameHalichoeres semicinctusFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length38.0Depth range24 m (79 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 24 mClimateSubtropicalDistributionEastern Pacific: Point Conception in California, USA to Guadalupe Island (off north-central Baja California) and the Gulf of California in Mexico.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2; tmax=14) More wrassesBlackear wrasseHalichoeres poeyiRosy razorfishXyrichtys martinicensisRainbow wrasseHalichoeres pictusGreen razorfishXyrichtys splendensClown wrasseHalichoeres maculipinnaYellowhead wrasseHalichoeres garnotiSee 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