WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Sixbar Wrasse

Thalassoma hardwicke

Also known as: Hardwick Wrasse, Hardwicki Wrasse, Hardwick's Wrasse, Lunate-tailed Wrasse, Six-banded Wrasse, Six-barred Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · February 20071 / 32

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

01

Overview

Found in small loose schools, along drop-offs and slopes, of shallow lagoons and seaward reefs. Often get close to divers in case they disturb the bottom, so they can forage for food.

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

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 · 3
  • Country only · 29
LIVES IN

Found in small loose schools, along drop-offs and slopes, of shallow lagoons and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 32

05

Discussion 1

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1 comment

  • LCM· 31 Jul 2011

    I also saw this fish near Banyan Tree house reef (Maldives). Always like to capture my attention when I take underwater photos and swim near me~

ALL STAGES
FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

Deep dive

Taxonomy

  1. kingdomAnimalia
  2. phylumChordata
  3. classTeleostei
  4. orderEupercaria incertae sedis
  5. familyLabridae
  6. genusThalassoma
  7. speciesThalassoma hardwicke (Bennett, 1830)

SourcesWoRMSFishBase

06

More in the family

Wrasses (Labridae)