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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🐠 Aquarium 🌡️ Tropical

Bicolor cleaner wrasse

Labroides bicolor Fowler & Bean, 1928
Max Length
15 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4
Depth
0–40 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
22.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Occurs in lagoon and seaward reefs to at least 40 m. Territorial around prominent coral formations called 'cleaning stations' . Juveniles generally solitary and quite secretive in caves while adults may wander over a large area in search of other fishes with ectoparasites . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Scientific Name
Labroides bicolor
Authority
Fowler & Bean, 1928
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
15 cm
Depth Range
0–40 m
Latitude
32°S – 32°N
Trophic Level
4
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
22.00/100
Water Temp
24–28 °C
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11; Vertebrae: 25. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D X-IX,10-11; A III,9-11; pectoral-fin rays 13; procurrent caudal-fin rays upper 6-8 and lower 7-8; principal caudal-fin rays 7-8 + 7; circumpeduncular scales 20-22; body depth 3.7-5.1 in SL; head length 2.6-3.0 in SL; snout length 2.6-3.3 in HL; orbit diameter 5.2-7.1 in HL; orbit diameter in snout length 1.6-2.5; caudal-peduncle length 3.3-4.9 in HL; pored lateral-line scales 26-29; scale rows above lateral line 4-5, below lateral line 9-11; total gill rakers 12-13. Colouration: head and anterior body indigo to deep navy blue (silvery white to pale grey in IP); head with a horizontal stripe from upper lip to about vertical of anal-fin origin (highly attenuated or absent in TP); posterior body is yellowish green; caudal fin with black crescentic margin .: elongated; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Bicolor cleaner wrasse is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

small fish
crustaceans
cephalopods

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 40 m , usually 2 - 20 m . Tropical; 24°C - 28°C ; 32°N - 32°S east Africa to Pitcairn (Fr.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
4±0.67
🧍 Solitary

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.0049 × L3.13 (TL)
Max TL
15cm
Dorsal Spines
10
Dorsal Rays
11
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
10
Vertebrae
25

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Temperature Range
24–28°C
Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2009

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
22.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
4
Apex / Top predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
32°N – 32°S
Described By
Fowler & Bean, 1928

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Bicolor cleaner wrasse is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.2 g
Omega-3 (total) 109 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Bicolor cleaner wrasse has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English bicolor cleaner wrasse · Bicolor cleanerfish · Bicolored Cleaner Wrasse · Bicolour cleaner wrasse · Cleaner wrasse · Two-colour Cleaner · Two-colour cleaner wrasse · Yellow diesel wrasse
🌍CES pyskoun dvoubarevný
🇩🇰Danish Tofarvet pudsefisk
🇩🇪German Zweifarben-Putzerlippfisch
🇫🇷French Labre nettoyeur à queue jaune · Labre nettoyeur bicolore · Nettoyeur à queue jaune
🇮🇹Italian Labride pulitore bicolore · Labro pulitore bicolore
🇯🇵Japanese Somewakebera · ソメワケベラ
🇵🇹Portuguese Bodião-limpador-bicolor
🇪🇸Spanish Lábrido Limpiador de Dos Colores
🌍TAH po'ou
🇨🇳Chinese 假漂漂 · 兩色倍良 · 兩色擬隆鯛 · 兩色鸚鯛 · 双色裂唇鱼 · 柳冷仔 · 雙色裂唇魚 · 魚醫生

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Fowlerella bicolor Fowler & Bean 1928 Synonym
Labroides bicolour Fowler & Bean 1928 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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