Description
Also known as Bird Wrasse, Birdfish, Birdmouth Wrasse, Birdnose Wrasse, Blackbird Bird Wrasse, Blue Clubnose Wrasse, Blue Club-nosed Wrasse, Bluebird Wrasse, Bluegreen Bird Wrasse, Brownbird Wrasse, Green Bird, Green Birdmouth Wrasse, Greenbird Wrasse, Lunate-tailed Wrasse, Olive Club-nosed Wrasse, Purple Club-nosed Wrasse.
Found singly, over lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.
They feed on small benthic crustaceans, small fish, molluscs and brittle stars.
Length - 25cm
Depth - 1-30m
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/Gomphosus-varius
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