Description
Also known as Bandcheek Wrasse, Cheekline Maori Wrasse, Cheekline Wrasse, Cheek-lined Maori, Cheek-lined Maori Wrasse, Cheek-lined Splendour Wrasse, Line-cheeked Wrasse, Lined-cheek Wrasse, Lined-cheeked Wrasse, Maori Wrasse, Scribbled Wrasse, Thicklip Wrasse, Violetline Maori Wrasse, Violet-lined Maori Wrasse, Violet-lined Wrasse.
Found singly, or sometimes mixed with schools of goatfish, over coral, rocks, and sandy areas, of sheltered lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth. These fish are highly variable in colour.
They feed on crustaceans, small fish, hard shelled molluscs, and sea urchins.
Sometimes curious towards divers.
Length - 35cm
Depth - 3-60m
Widespread Indo-Pacific
Most reef fish seen by divers during the day, are grazers, they cruise around, just above the surface of the coral, or snoop into crevices, foraging for food.
Wrasses have small protruding teeth, which they use to graze the bottom, taking in a variety of algae, crustaceans, such as crabs, eggs, shrimps, snails and worms. 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 crevices. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5599
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