WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Graphic Tuskfish

Choerodon graphicus

Also known as: Tuskfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · North Kepple Island, QLD, Australia · March 20121 / 2
01

Overview

Found singly, over rubble and sand bottoms, of lagoons and seaward reefs. Very shy!
Western Pacific - Australia to New Caledonia

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

COLOURS
Pattern
patches
Head & Mouth
eye stripe
Behaviour
shysolitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Pacific
  • Exact location · 1
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, over rubble and sand bottoms, of lagoons and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderEupercaria incertae sedis
    5. familyLabridae
    6. genusChoerodon
    7. speciesChoerodon graphicus (De Vis, 1885)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)