Usually solitary in coral rich areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs. Hovers well above the bottom . Young secretive in soft corals and hydrozoans . Benthopelagic . Feeds mainly on fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans . May be ciguatoxic . Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 11. Adults developing a distinctive black blotch covering the rears of the dorsal and anal fins . Display a bright white band over the tail . White bar often present on caudal peduncle (this pattern very changeable). Red lines radiating posteriorly from eye continuous across opercle to posterior opercular edge. Membranes of spinous portion of dorsal fin smooth, not incised (Ref 9823).: fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Behavioural data for Ringtail maori wrasse is currently being reviewed.
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding .
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 160 m . Tropical; 30°N - 30°S north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Rowley Shoals in northwestern Australia, New Caledonia, and Rapa.
fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans (Ref
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Ringtail maori wrasse · ringtail wrasse · Rosecolored wrasse · Tail-band maori wrasse · Whiteband maori wrasse |
| 🇫🇷French | Labre à anneau blanc |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Hitosuji-mochino-uo · Hitosujimochinouo · ヒトスジモチノウオ |
| 🌍TAH | papae, parahirahi |
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheilenus unifasciatus | Streets | 1877 | Synonym |
| Cheilinus cingulatus | Weber | 1913 | Synonym |
| Cheilinus hexagonatus | Günther | 1881 | Synonym |
| Cheilinus polygramma | Valenciennes | 1840 | Synonym |
| Cheilinus unifasciatus | Streets | 1877 | Synonym |
| Cheilinus zonurus | Jenkins | 1901 | Synonym |
| Chilinus hexagonatus | Günther | 1881 | Synonym |
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Ringtail maori wrasse ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.