WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Tubelip Wrasse

Labrichthys unilineatus

Also known as: Oneline Wrasse, One-lined Wrasse, Tubemouth Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@davidmeridian179 · Naitauba Island, Northern Lau, Fiji · April 20141 / 13
01

Overview

Found singly or in small schools, close too, or in the arms of Acropora staghorn corals, over semi-protected lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.
They feed on coral polyps (parasites and dead skin when they occasionally clean other fish).

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

COLOURS

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03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 13
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools, close too, or in the arms of Acropora staghorn corals, over semi-protected lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.

04

Adult photos 13

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. genusLabrichthys
    7. speciesLabrichthys unilineatus (Guichenot, 1847)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)