WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Greenback Wrasse

Halichoeres nigrescens

Also known as: Bubblefin Wrasse, Diamond Wrasse, Dissumier's Wrasse, Dusky Rainbowfish, Kner's Wrasse, Pinstripe Wrasse, Rainbowfish, Sand-reef Wrasse, Whitebutton Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · North Kepple Island, QLD, Australia · March 20121 / 4

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

01

Overview

Found singly or in small schools, over shallow, weedy areas, of lagoons and rocky shorelines, devoid of coral 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.

02

How to identify

Pattern
stripes

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-West Pacific
  • Exact location · 3
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools, over shallow, weedy areas, of lagoons and rocky shorelines, devoid of coral growth.

04

Adult photos 4

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. genusHalichoeres
    7. speciesHalichoeres nigrescens (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)