WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Exquisite Wrasse

Cirrhilabrus exquisitus

Also known as: Emerald Fairy Wrasse, Exquisite Fairy Wrasse, Flasher Wrasse, Small-mouthed Wrasse

Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · June 20101 / 19

Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.

01

Overview

Found singly, or in medium to large schools, around bommies and rubble areas, over current exposed reef edges and patch reefs.
They feed in the water column on zooplankton.

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
streaks

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 19
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in medium to large schools, around bommies and rubble areas, over current exposed reef edges and patch reefs.

04

Adult photos 19

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 exquisitus Smith, 1957

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)