Description
Also known as Lunate-tailed Wrasse, Rainbowfish, Rainbow Wrasse, Red Sea Klunzinger Wrasse, Red Sea Rueppelli Wrasse, Rueppell's Wrasse.
Found singly or in pairs, over coral and rocky areas, with caves and crevices for hunting and sleeping, over reef margins and seaward slopes.
They feed on crustaceans, benthic invertebrates, and small fish.
Often inquisitive of divers.
Length - 20cm
Depth - 1-30m
Western Indian Ocean - Red Sea
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. (edit)
Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/25787
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