Description
Also known as Brown-banded Wrasse, Rainbowfish, Sandreef Wrasse, Zigzag, Zigzag Rainbowfish, Zigzag Rainbow Wrasse, Zigzag Sand Wrasse.
Found singly or in harems over rubble, sand and seagrass beds of shallow bays and lagoons.
They feed small crustaceans.
Often seen with Goatfish or Emperors feeding on creatures that these fish have disturbed in the sand.
Length - 20cm
Depth - 1-20m
Widespread Indo-West 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/Halichoeres-scapularis
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