HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesSeagrass wrasse Seagrass wrasse (Novaculoides macrolepidotus) Scientific name: Novaculoides macrolepidotus Bloch, 1791 The Seagrass wrasse (Novaculoides macrolepidotus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Indo-West Pacific, Red Sea and East Africa to New Guinea, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe Island. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. A slender species, usually bright green. Juveniles vary from brown to green, usually with a blotched pattern.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameNovaculoides macrolepidotusFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length15.0Depth range0–4 m (0–13 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 4 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to New Guinea, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe Island.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More wrassesRockmover wrasseNovaculichthys taeniourusYellowblotch razorfishIniistius aneitensisSling-jaw wrasseEpibulus insidiatorRingtail maori wrasseOxycheilinus unifasciatusHumphead wrasseCheilinus undulatusPeacock wrasseIniistius pavoSee 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