WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Twospot Wrasse

Oxycheilinus bimaculatus

Also known as: Comet-tailed Wrasse, Doublespot Wrasse, Festive Wrasse, Filament-fin Wrasse, Little Maori, Little Maori Wrasse, Longjaw Wrasse, Maori Wrasse, Ornate Wrasse, Ragged-tail Wrasse, Thicklip Wrasse, Twospot Maori Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@perigor2000 · Tubattaha Reef, Philippines · May 20091 / 18
01

Overview

Found singly or in small schools, amongst algae patches, rubble, and seagrass beds, over deep, clear, lagoons and outer reef slopes. Colours vary, males develop tail filaments.

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

Fins & Tail
filament fins

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 18
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools, amongst algae patches, rubble, and seagrass beds, over deep, clear, lagoons and outer reef slopes.

04

Adult photos 18

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. genusOxycheilinus
    7. speciesOxycheilinus bimaculatus (Valenciennes, 1840)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)