HomeMarine aquarium fishWrassesSurge wrasse Surge wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum) Scientific name: Thalassoma purpureum Forssk?l, 1775 The Surge wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12. T. purpureum and T. trilobatum have nearly identical initial phases. They differ slightly in details of the head markings, and T. purpureum has a slightly longer head, shorter pectoral fins, and attains a larger size. Females best distinguished by the 'V' mark on the snout. Initial phase with a vertical dark red line below front of eye usually with a branch to front of snout (Ref 9823).Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameThalassoma purpureumFamilyLabridae (Wrasses)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length46.0Depth range0–10 m (0–33 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 10 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Easter islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe, Kermadec, and Rapa islands. Southeast Atlantic: southeast coast of South Africa. Replaced by Thalassoma virens in the Revillagigedo Islands.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More wrassesFivestripe wrasseThalassoma quinquevittatumYellow-brown wrasseThalassoma lutescensMoon wrasseThalassoma lunareChristmas wrasseThalassoma trilobatumJansen's wrasseThalassoma janseniiBicolor cleaner wrasseLabroides bicolorSee 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