WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Mental Wrasse

Oxycheilinus mentalis

Also known as: Maori Wrasse, Thicklip Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
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01

Overview

Found singly, close to coral heads over fringing reefs. They can change colour to match non predatory parrotfish and surgeonfish.
Sometimes curious towards divers.
Western Indian Ocean - Gulf of Aden, Red Sea

Most reef fish seen by divers during the day are grazers, that cruise around just above the surface of the coral or snoop into crevices looking for algae, worms and small crustaceans.
Wrasses have small protruding teeth and graze the bottom taking in a variety of snails, worms, crabs, shrimps and eggs. 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 crevasses.

02

How to identify

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Indian Ocean
LIVES IN

Found singly, close to coral heads over fringing reefs.

04

Adult photos 0

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. genusOxycheilinus
    7. speciesOxycheilinus mentalis (Rüppell, 1828)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)