Tail-spot wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)

Scientific name: Halichoeres melanurus Bleeker, 1851

Tail-spot wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus)

The Tail-spot wrasse (Halichoeres melanurus) is a marine fish of the family Labridae. Native range: Western Pacific, Japan south to the Great Barrier Reef and east to Samoa and Tonga. Replaced by Halichoeres vrolikii in the Indian Ocean.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 25. Stripes on male body blue-green and orangish in life, becoming salmon pink and green anteriorly; a dark spot behind eye contained within a brown band that bifurcates posteriorly. Females with a small black spot on 1st interspinous membrane of dorsal fin, another between 2nd-3rd soft rays; a spot at the upper base of caudal fin. Anterior lateral line scales with 1-4 pores (usually 2). Pelvic fins of males reaching to or beyond the anus.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Halichoeres melanurus
Family
Labridae (Wrasses)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
12.0
Depth range
1 m (3 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - ? m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Pacific: Japan south to the Great Barrier Reef and east to Samoa and Tonga. Replaced by Halichoeres vrolikii in the Indian Ocean.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

More wrasses

See all wrasses

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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