WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Eight-lined Wrasse

Pseudocheilinus octotaenia

Also known as: Eightline Wrasse, Eightstripe Wrasse, Eight-striped Wrasse, Flasher Wrasse, Small-mouthed Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@perigor2000 · Banda is, Indonesia · February 20101 / 2
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Overview

Found singly in caves and crevices, over live corals and rubble, of seaward reefs, rich with invertebrate growth.

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.

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How to identify

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found singly in caves and crevices, over live corals and rubble, of seaward reefs, rich with invertebrate growth.

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Adult photos 2

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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. genusPseudocheilinus
    7. speciesPseudocheilinus octotaenia Jenkins, 1901

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)