Teleostei > Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) > Labridae (Wrasses) > Xyrichtyinae
Etymology: Xyrichtys:Greek, xyreo = that cuts like a knife + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335); novacula:Specific name from Latin 'novacula' meaning 'razor'; referring to it being very compressed with front of head forming a sharp edge.. More on author: Linnaeus.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
生态学
Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 7251) through the Caribbean to Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: France to Angola and including the Mediterranean, Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Sao Tome Island.
大小 / 重量 / 年龄
Maturity: Lm? range ? - ? cm Max length : 38.0 cm TL 雄鱼/尚未辨别雌雄; (Ref. 7251); common length : 20.0 cm TL 雄鱼/尚未辨别雌雄; (Ref. 2683); 最大年龄: 8 年 (Ref. 4742)
背棘 (总数) : 9; 背的软条 (总数) : 12; 臀棘: 3; 臀鳍软条: 12. An elongate, very compressed fish with front of head forming a sharp edge. Snout very blunt; profile steep. Pale greenish, usually with no conspicuous markings on body (Ref. 26938). Head with alternating vertical lines of light blue and light yellow-orange (Ref. 13442).
Inhabits clear shallow areas with sandy bottoms, usually in the vicinity of seagrass beds and corals (Ref. 2683). Feeds mainly on mollusks; also crabs and shrimps (Ref. 3726). A protogynous hermaphrodite; sexual dimorphism apparent in head shape and length of pelvic fin (Ref. 5292). Builds nests with coral debris. Dives head first into the sand when frightened (Ref. 9710). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3726).
Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | 繁殖 | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | 仔鱼
Gomon, M.F. and P. Forsyth, 1990. Labridae. p. 868-882. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon, SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 5292)
