WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Three-lined Rainbowfish

Stethojulis trilineata

Also known as: Blue-ribbon Wrasse, Fourline Wrasse, Rainbowfish, Red Shoulder Rainbowfish, Sandreef Wrasse, Scarlet-banded Rainbowfish, Three Blueline Wrasse, Three Ribbon Wrasse, Threeline Rainbowfish, Three-lined Ribbon Wrasse, Three-lined Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 7
01

Overview

Found singly, pairs, or in loose schools, over shallow, clear water, exposed reefs, along upper parts of drop-offs and reef crests.

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

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 7
LIVES IN

Found singly, pairs, or in loose schools, over shallow, clear water, exposed reefs, along upper parts of drop-offs and reef crests.

04

Adult photos 7

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. genusStethojulis
    7. speciesStethojulis trilineata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)