| Family: |
Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Corinae |
| Max. size: |
25 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 3 years |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 40 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Florida (USA), southeastern Gulf of Mexico and throughout the Caribbean Sea to northern South America. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 10-11. Body elongate; 3 primary color phases, the smallest with a black mid-lateral stripe which continues as pale red blotches on head; back above stripe yellow on reef fish and whitish on fish from inshore non-reef areas, and body below white. The largest phase, has a bright blue head and a green body with two broad vertical black bars anteriorly which are separated by a light blue interspace; this phase is always male. The small yellow phase with the black stripe may be either male or female (Ref. 13442). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits reef areas, inshore bays and seagrass beds. Feeds mainly on zooplankton and small benthic animals, but may also feed on ectoparasites of other fishes (Ref. 9626). Spawn at midday throughout the year (Ref. 26938). A protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367). Generally of no interest to fisheries because of its small average size (Ref. 5217). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 April 2008 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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