Pinstriped Wrasse

Scientific Name: Halichoeres melanurus
Species: Wrasses (Labridae)
Other names: Sand-Reef Wrasses, Melanurus Wrasse, Hoeven's Wrasse, Tail-spot Wrasse, Dusky-tailed Wrasse, Dusky-tailed Rainbowfish, Orange-tipped Rainbowfish.

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Pinstriped Wrasse

Uploaded by: @fishx6 in August 2008
Photographed at: Lembeh - Indonesia
Caption: No caption available
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Description

Also known as Sand-Reef Wrasses, Melanurus Wrasse, Hoeven's Wrasse, Tail-spot Wrasse, Dusky-tailed Wrasse, Dusky-tailed Rainbowfish and Orange-tipped Rainbowfish.

Found singly or in small groups in protected silty lagoons and sheltered coastal reefs, close to sand and rubble bottoms.
Adults pastel green with lavender scale spots on head.
Juveniles green.
They feed on hard shell invertebrates.
Length - 12cm
Depth - to 15m
Widespread West Pacific

Most reef fish seen by divers during the day are grazers, that cruise around just above the surface of the coral or snoop into crevices looking for algae, worms and small crustaceans.
Wrasses have small protruding teeth and graze the bottom taking in a variety of snails, worms, crabs, shrimps and eggs. Any hard coats or thick shells are then ground down by their pharyngeal jaws and the delicacies inside digested.
From juvenile to adult wrasses dramatically alter their colour and body shapes.
Wrasses are always on the go during the day, but are the first to go to bed and the last to rise.
Small wrasses dive below the sand to sleep and larger wrasses wedge themselves in crevasses. (edit)