WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Sixline Wrasse

Pseudocheilinus hexataenia

Also known as: Flasher Wrasse, Pyjama, Pyjama Wrasse, Sixline Wrasse, Six-lined Wrasse, Small-mouthed Wrasse, Twelve-line Wrasse, Watermelon Wrasse, Sixstripe Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · Gangehi, Maldives · March 20081 / 8
01

Overview

Found in small schools, often in the branches of corals for protection, over clearwater shallow reef crests and slopes of 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

Pattern
stripes
Fins & Tail
tail spot
Behaviour
schooling

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 8
LIVES IN

Found in small schools, often in the branches of corals for protection, over clearwater shallow reef crests and slopes of seaward reefs rich in coral growth.

04

Adult photos 8

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. genusPseudocheilinus
    7. speciesPseudocheilinus hexataenia (Bleeker, 1857)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)