Humphead wrasse

📖 Overview

Adults inhabit steep outer reef slopes, channel slopes, and lagoon reefs . They are benthopelagic at 2-60 m . They are usually solitary but may occur in pairs. Juveniles are encountered in coral-rich areas of lagoon reefs, where staghorn Acropora corals abound and also in algae reefs or seagrasses . Adults rove across the reefs by day and rest in reef caves and under coral ledges at night . Primary food are mollusks, fishes, sea urchins, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. They are one of the few predators of toxic animals such as sea hares, boxfishes and crown-of-thorns starfish . They are oviparous with distinct pairing during breeding . They are sold in Hong Kong live fish markets . This species is captured by hook-and-line and by spear, and is occasionally marketed for food. Juveniles are occasionally seen in the aquarium trade . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body deep, its depth 2.2-2.7 times in standard length; dorsal profile of head straight to above eye, then becoming convex; adults develop a large hump on forehead that can protrude anterior to eye; anterior tip of head forming an acute angle; jaws and lips prominent, 2 strong canines anteriorly in each jaw; no enlarged tooth present of rear of upper jaw; D IX,10, continuous; A III,8; dorsal and anal fins of adults very pointed, reaching well posterior to caudal-fin base; pelvic fins of small fish reaching anus, extending beyond anal-fin origin in large adults; pectoral fins with ii unbranched and 10 branched rays; caudal fin rounded; lateral line interrupted below posterior portion of dorsal-fin base, with a total of 22-23 pored scales; scales reaching well onto bases of dorsal and anal fins; scales in front of dorsal fin extending forward to above centre of eye; cheek and opercle scaly; lower jaw without scales. Colour of body olive to green with a vertical dark bar on each scale above and behind pectoral fins; head of adults blue-green to blue with highly irregular undulating yellowish lines; 2 black lines extending posteriorly from eye. Juvenile coloration lighter to white with dark scale bars and prominent black lines extending posteriorly from eyes, as well as 2 lines extending diagonally up and back from eye and 2 diagonally downward on snout in front of eye .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Humphead wrasse is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Humphead wrasse is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding . Also Ref. 103751.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 100 m . Tropical; 30°N - 23°S South Africa (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 7 records indexed .

👥 Community & Contribute