WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Red-breasted Wrasse

Cheilinus fasciatus

Also known as: Banded Maori, Banded Maori Wrasse, Banded Splendour Wrasse, Maori Wrasse, Rainbowfish, Red-banded Wrasse, Redbreast Maori Wrasse, Redbreast Wrasse, Red-breasted Maori Wrasse, Scarlet-breasted Maori Wrasse, Scarlet-breasted Wrasse, Thicklip Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · Flair Point - Coral Sea, Australia · July 20091 / 25
01

Overview

Found singly over mixed coral, rubble, and sandy areas, of lagoons and seaward reefs.
Widespread Indo Pacific

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

Behaviour
solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Exact location · 3
  • Country only · 22
LIVES IN

Found singly over mixed coral, rubble, and sandy areas, of lagoons and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 25

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. genusCheilinus
    7. speciesCheilinus fasciatus (Bloch, 1791)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)