Rosy Razorfish
Xyrichtys martinicensis
Also known as: Razorfish, Sand Wrasse, Straight-tail Razorfish, Straight-tailed Razorfish
- Razorfish
- Sand Wrasse
- Straight-tail Razorfish
- Straight-tailed Razorfish
Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.
Overview
Found singly or in loose schools, hovering over open sand flats, ridges, slopes and seagrass beds, especially manatee grass in coastal reefs. When disturbed they will dive into the sand, they can "swim" for long distances through the sand to deter predators. Varies in colour, females lose their body bar with age.
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
- blotchblue blotch
Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.
Habitat & where to find it
Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.
- Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
- Country only · 4
Found singly or in loose schools, hovering over open sand flats, ridges, slopes and seagrass beds, especially manatee grass in coastal reefs.
Adult photos 4
Discussion
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Deep dive
More in the family
Wrasses (Labridae)

Diana's Hogfish
Bodianus diana

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Macropharyngodon negrosensis

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Doubleheader
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Five-spotted Wrasse
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Green Razorfish
Xyrichtys splendens

