WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Yellow-breasted Wrasse

Anampses twistii

Also known as: Sandreef Wrasse, Tamarin Wrasse, Twist Wrasse, Twister Wrasse, Twistii Wrasse, Twist's Wrasse, Yellowbreast Wrasse, Yellow-breasted Tamerin, Yellowchest Anampses, Yellowchest Wrasse, Yellowchest Twist Wrasse

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 5
01

Overview

Found singly or in pairs, over mixed coral, rock, rubble, and sandy areas, of clear lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.
Small juveniles have false eyes at the end of dorsal and anal fins, when swimming with head down and side view looks like the face of a larger 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

Pattern
spots
Behaviour
pairssolitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 5
LIVES IN

Found singly or in pairs, over mixed coral, rock, rubble, and sandy areas, of clear lagoons and seaward reefs, rich in coral growth.

04

Adult photos 5

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. genusAnampses
    7. speciesAnampses twistii Bleeker, 1856

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Wrasses (Labridae)