Description

Also known as Filament Wrasse, Filamented Fairy Wrasse, Filamented Flasher Fairy Wrasse, Filamented Flasher Wrasse, Filamentfin Wrasse, Filamentous Wrasse, Flasher Wrasse, Purple Fin Fairy, Red Filamented Flasher Wrasse, Small-mouthed Wrasse.

Found in small to large schools, over rubble areas, in passages of outer reef slopes, and lagoons. Extremely variable in colour, males change colour during mating display.
They feed on benthic invertebrates and zooplankton.
Length - 70cm
Depth - 15-65m
Western Central Pacific - Indonesia, Timor-Leste

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 crevices. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Paracheilinus-paineorum.html