Rainbow Wrasse
Halichoeres pictus
Also known as: Painted Wrasse, Rainbowfish, Sand-reef Wrasse
- Painted Wrasse
- Rainbowfish
- Sand-reef Wrasse
Overview
Found in schools, swimming high above coral reefs, rich with invertebrate growth.
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.
How to identify
- Pattern
- black stripes
- Behaviour
- open waterschooling
Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
- Country only · 14
Found in schools, swimming high above coral reefs, rich with invertebrate growth.
Juvenile photos 14
Discussion
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Deep dive
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