Description
Also known as Sand-reef Wrasse, Slippery Dick Wrasse.
Found singly, pairs, or in schools, over shallow, rocky reefs.
They feed on fish and benthic invertebrates.
Length - 35cm
Depth - 1-15m
Widespread Western Atlantic, Caribbean
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/3660
2 comments
Posted by Wayne JoyeI caught one several years obout 3mile of the coast of Wrightsville Bch.NC.I tried to keep it alive in my bait tank for the Marine aquarium. My friends laugh at me when I tell them I caught a Slippery Dic.
Posted by Michael A WilkesI caught two of these fish on the 18th of April. They were caught in in 13 feet of water about two mile west of Anclote Island off of Pasco County Florida. I have some pictures, which I sent to FWC who identified the fish as a "slippery dick". I have been fishing these Guld waters since I was a kid and have never seen or caught one of these.