WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Blue-spotted Wrasse

Anampses caeruleopunctatus

Also known as: Blue-spotted Tamarin, Blue-spotted Tamarin Wrasse, Chisel-tooth Wrasse, Diamond Wrasse, Rainbowfish, Sand-reef Wrasse, Speckled Wrasse, Spotted Chisel-tooth Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · Pixie Wall - Great Barrier Reef, Australia · July 20091 / 8
01

Overview

Found singly or in pairs, over surge zones of coral and rocky reefs.
Juveniles resemble leaves when swimming.

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.

02

How to identify

Pattern
linesspots
Behaviour
pairssolitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Exact location · 2
  • Country only · 6
LIVES IN

Found singly or in pairs, over surge zones of coral and rocky reefs.

04

Adult photos 8

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderEupercaria incertae sedis
    5. familyLabridae
    6. genusAnampses
    7. speciesAnampses caeruleopunctatus Rüppell, 1829

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)