WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Pacific Bird Wrasse

Gomphosus varius

Also known as: Bird Wrasse, Birdfish, Birdmouth Wrasse, Birdnose Wrasse, Blackbird Bird Wrasse, Blue Clubnose Wrasse, Blue Club-nosed Wrasse, Bluebird Wrasse, Bluegreen Bird Wrasse, Brownbird Wrasse, Green Bird, Green Birdmouth Wrasse, Greenbird Wrasse, Lunate-tailed Wrasse, Olive Club-nosed Wrasse, Purple Club-nosed Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@powerman · Around the island, Tonga · October 20111 / 27

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

01

Overview

Found singly, over lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in 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

Head & Mouth
long nose
Behaviour
solitary

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
  • Exact location · 6
  • Dive site · 1
  • Country only · 20
LIVES IN

Found singly, over lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.

04

Adult photos 27

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. genusGomphosus
    7. speciesGomphosus varius Lacepède, 1801

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)