Inhabits sand patches of lagoon and seaward reefs to at least 30 m ; also on slopes to moderate depths along drop-offs . Juveniles common at the bottom of surge channels . Feeds mainly on hard-shelled prey, including mollusks, crustaceans and sea urchins (9823).
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Some geographical variations between Indian and Pacific Ocean and Red Sea. Adults with one or two yellow saddles over the back and sometimes with small black spot on upper peduncle. Small juveniles black and white, gradually changing with growth to adult pattern .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Behavioural data for Checkerboard wrasse is currently being reviewed.
Distinct pairing during breeding .
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 40 m , usually 1 - 30 m . Tropical; 24°C - 28°C ; 32°N - 28°S, 34°E - 134°W south to Sodwana Bay, South Africa and east to the Line, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef.
hard-shelled prey, including mollusks, crustaceans and sea urchins (9823)
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Checkerboard wrasse · Chequerboard Wrasse · Four-spot wrasse · Fourspot Wrasse · Rainbowfish · Wall wrasse |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | Muesy |
| 🌍CES | kněžík šachovnicovitý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Ternet gylte |
| 🇩🇪German | Schachbrett-Junker |
| 🌍FIJ | drividrivi |
| 🇫🇷French | Arc en ciel jaune · Girelle · Girelle échiquier · Labre damier · Labre-échiquier · Lalo damier · Tamarin |
| 🌍HEB | יפעתן משובץ |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Tordo scacchiera |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Tokarabera · トカラベラ |
| 🌍MAL | Nihola · നിഹോള |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Schaakbordlipvis |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Bodião axedrezado · Bodião-mármore |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Индоокеанский тамарин |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Lalo ajearezado · Señorita tablero de ajedrez |
| 🌍TAH | po'ou |
| 🌍TGL | Bankilan · Bunak · Bungat · Isdang bato · Mameng |
| 🌍THA | ปลานกขุนทองตารางหมากรุก · ปลานกขุนทองลายเหลื่อม |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 四點儒艮鯛 · 四齒仔 · 方斑儒艮鯛 · 柳冷仔 · 格紋海豬魚 · 格纹海猪鱼 · 花面龍 · 雲斑海豬魚 · 雷仔 · 鸚仔 · 鸚哥 · 黃花龍 |
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? centriquadrus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Halichoeres centiquadrus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Halichoeres centriquadrus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Halichoeres eximius | Rüppell | 1835 | Synonym |
| Halichoeres hortulans | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Halichoeres hortulanus centiquadrus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Halichoeres hortulanus centriquadrus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Halichoeres notophthalmus | Bleeker | 1856 | Synonym |
| Hemitautoga centiquadrus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Julis corbis | Valenciennes | 1839 | Synonym |
| Julis notophthalmus | Bleeker | 1847 | Synonym |
| Julis semidecorata | Lesson | 1828 | Synonym |
| Labrus centiquadrus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Labrus hortulanus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Sparus decussatus | Bennett | 1829 | Synonym |
| Tautoga notophthalmus | Bleeker | 1856 | Synonym |
The following diseases are known to affect Checkerboard wrasse.
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 38 records indexed .
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