HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesSideburn wrasse Sideburn wrasse (Pteragogus pelycus) Scientific name: Pteragogus pelycus Randall, 1981 The Sideburn wrasse (Pteragogus pelycus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, south to Durban, South Africa. Eastern Mediterranean: Mersin and Iskendrun Bay. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Back flank and nape brown-red; ventral brown orange. Anal and ventral fin light with brown margin. Black blotch on opercle slightly lower than eye. Orange eye with dark pupil.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific namePteragogus pelycusFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length15.0EnvironmentMarine; demersalClimateSubtropicalDistributionWestern Indian Ocean: south to Durban, South Africa. Eastern Mediterranean: Mersin and Iskendrun Bay.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More wrassesCocktail wrassePteragogus flagelliferBluelined wrasseStethojulis albovittataGoldbar wrasseThalassoma hebraicumSpottail corisCoris caudimaculaGraphic tuskfishChoerodon graphicusBlue humphead parrotfishChlorurus cyanescensSee 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