Pakoko wrasse

📖 Overview

Pakoko wrasse (Macropharyngodon pakoko), first described by Trottin, Williams & Planes, 2014 is a small fish in the family Labridae (order Perciformes). Adults typically reach 7.20 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 0 to 42 metres. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D IX,11; A III,11; pectoral rays 12 (plus upper rudimentary ray); 2-3 pores on anterior lateral-line scales;17 (15-17) gill rakers. Colour pattern of females: no black spot on chest at base of gill openings; widely-spaced spots on body, especially on head; small bright yellow spots in vertical row on caudal fin; pale pelvic fins with 3 cross-bands (reddish orange to yellow); along the base of anal fin are small reddish spots. Colour pattern of males: green head and body with scales having a dark purplish brown bar, those laterally and ventrally on body with bar preceded by a blue line; curved black humeral blotch outline with iridescent blue followed by a broad and irregular longitudinal band of a dark yellow-orange network superimposed over and adjacent to the bar pattern on scales; head with an anastomosing pattern of red bands edged with dark purple and iridescent blue; cheek with an inverted irregular 'U'-shaped band; upper base of pectoral fin with a small black spot; dorsal and anal fins reddish with blue-ringed green spots with black border and some spots are merging and forming vertical reticulations; caudal fin has reddish reticulations around greenish yellow spots with black borders, the distal margin has a broad red band followed by a black outline then whitish tips on ray; pelvic fin translucent or colored, outermost rays faintly reddish yellow with innermost rays translucent. Colour of juveniles: few irregular black blotches on body with irregular red bars on anal fin broadly joined distally with yellow; a small black spot instead of an ocellus posteriorly on the dorsal fin and no large back spots and ocellus on the anal fin .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Pakoko wrasse is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 42 m . Tropical; 7°S - 11°S, 138°W - 141°W

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

👥 Community & Contribute