HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesSlippery dick Slippery dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) Scientific name: Halichoeres bivittatus Bloch, 1791 The Slippery dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Western Atlantic, North Carolina, USA and Bermuda to Brazil. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12. The dominant color markings are two dark stripes, one running from snout through eye to caudal base and the other, less pronounced, on lower side of body; a bicolored spot at edge of gill cover within upper dark stripe; large adult males green on back, shading to light greenish yellow on sides, the two stripes usually purplish; irregular light red bands on head and on caudal fin.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameHalichoeres bivittatusFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length35.0Depth range1–15 m (3–49 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 15 mClimateTropicalDistributionWestern Atlantic: North Carolina, USA and Bermuda to Brazil.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More wrassesGreenband wrasseHalichoeres bathyphilusYellowcheek wrasseHalichoeres cyanocephalusDwarf wrasseDoratonotus megalepisYellowhead wrasseHalichoeres garnotiRed hogfishDecodon puellarisClown wrasseHalichoeres maculipinnaSee 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