| Family: |
Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Corinae |
| Max. size: |
15 cm TL (male/unsexed); 8 cm TL (female) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 30 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: eastern Indian Ocean to western Australia, including the Christmas Island, Cocos-Keeling and the Andaman Sea; then from Japan to New South Wales, Australia. Eastern Pacific: offshore islands in the eastern Pacific, including Clipperton, Cocos and the Galapagos islands (Ref. 36378). Range extends to Baja California during El Niño (Victor, pers. comm.). Replaced by Stethojulis albovittata in the western Indian Ocean and Stethojulis balteata in the Hawaiian Islands (Ref. 37816). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 11-11. 1st spine of the anal fin is minute or imbedded (Ref. 1602).Terminal males typically have a series of partial to complete longitudinal thin blue lines on their sides (Ref. 1602). Females mainly bluish grey with fine white spotting over upper sides and a small red spot at axil of pectoral fin (Ref. 48636). |
| Biology: |
Usually found in shallow clear water of reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs, in areas of mixed sand, rubble and coral (Ref. 9710, 58534). Usually solitary or in small groups (Ref. 9311). Feeds mainly on demersal planktonic crustaceans and small benthic invertebrates. Female length is from Ref. 9137. Replaced by S. albovittatus in the Andaman Sea (Ref. 90102). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 July 2008 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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