Cheeklined wrasse
📖 Overview
Found solitary in lagoon and sheltered seaward reefs in coral rich areas . Possibly to 120 m depths. Young is more inshore on sheltered reef crests or slopes, usually amongst soft corals or stinging hydrozoans . Feeds on hard-shelled mollusks, crustaceans, and sea urchins . The species is observed to swim with a group of goatfish and change its color to resemble these fish, it then darts out from the group to catch small fish . This species curiously approaches divers closely .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 11. Differs from the very similar C. unifasciatus by always lacking the white bar in front of the caudal base as well as the area clear of red streaks extending from the eye to just above the pectoral axis .: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Cheeklined wrasse is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Cheeklined wrasse is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 60 m . Tropical; 30°N - 23°S East Africa to the Marshall Islands and Samoa.
🌿 Ecology
hard-shelled mollusks, crustaceans, and sea urchins (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | bandcheek wrasse · Cheek-lined Maori wrasse · Cheeklined Maori wrasse · Cheeklined wrasse |
| 🇫🇷French | Vieille barbe noire |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Hohosujimochinouo · Hôsuji-mochino-uo · ホホスジモチノウオ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Bodião barbanegra |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? diagrammus | Lacepède | 1801 | Heterotypic |
| Cheilinus coccineus | Rüppell | 1828 | Synonym |
| Cheilinus commersoni | Bennett | 1832 | Synonym |
| Cheilinus diagrammus | Lacepède | 1801 | Heterotypic |
| Cheilinus digramma | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Cheilinus digrammas | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Cheilinus lacrymans | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Cheilinus radiatus | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Cheilinus roseus | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Labrus digramma | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Oxycheilinus diagrammus | Lacepède | 1801 | Synonym |
| Sparus radiatus | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 30 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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