WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Dotted Wrasse

Cirrhilabrus punctatus

Also known as: Black-finned Wrasse, Fairy Wrasse, Finespot Wrasse, Fine-spotted Fairy Wrasse, Fine-spotted Wrasse, Reef Wrasse, Rosebelly Fairy Wrasse, Small-mouthed Wrasse, Small-spotted Wrasse, Vila Fairy Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@greatwhite · Live Aboard, Great Barrier Reef, Australia · May 20151 / 21
01

Overview

Found singly or in small schools, over coral and rubble areas, of shallow lagoons and protected reefs.

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

Fins & Tail
yellow tail

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Pacific
  • Exact location · 3
  • Country only · 18
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools, over coral and rubble areas, of shallow lagoons and protected reefs.

04

Adult photos 21

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. genusCirrhilabrus
    7. speciesCirrhilabrus punctatus Randall & Kuiter, 1989

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)