Bluehead
📖 Overview
Inhabits reef areas, inshore bays and seagrass beds. Feeds mainly on zooplankton and small benthic animals, but may also feed on ectoparasites of other fishes . Spawn at midday throughout the year . A protogynous hermaphrodite . Generally of no interest to fisheries because of its small average size .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11. Body elongate; 3 primary color phases, the smallest with a black mid-lateral stripe which continues as pale red blotches on head; back above stripe yellow on reef fish and whitish on fish from inshore non-reef areas, and body below white. The largest phase, has a bright blue head and a green body with two broad vertical black bars anteriorly which are separated by a light blue interspace; this phase is always male. The small yellow phase with the black stripe may be either male or female .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Bluehead is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
A diandric species . Sex reversal is completed in more than 3-4 weeks . Length at sex change = 8.3 cm TL, forms leks during breeding .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 40 m , usually 3 - 30 m . Tropical; 23°C - 26°C ; 34°N - 7°N, 99°W - 58°W South America.
🌿 Ecology
zooplankton and small benthic animals, but may also feed on ectoparasites of other fishes (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Bluehead is an edible species."
- 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
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.6 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 149 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Bluehead has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Blue mah · Bluehead · bluehead wrasse · Caribbean Bluehead Wrasse · Doctor fish · Parrotfish · Tikitiki |
| 🌍CES | kněžík dvoupruhý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Blåhoved |
| 🇩🇪German | Blaukopf-Junker · Blaukopflippfisch |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Sinipäähuulikala |
| 🇫🇷French | Girelle à tête bleue |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Labride testa blu dei Caraibi · Labro testa blu dei Caraibi · Tordo testa blu dei Caraibi |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Talasoma Sinogłowa |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Bodião-de-cabeça-azul |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Синеголовая талассома · талассома двухполосая |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | cara de cotorra · Lábrido cabeza azul · Loro cabeza azul · Señorita Caribeña Cabeza Azul |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 双带锦鱼 · 雙帶錦魚 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bermudichthys subfurcatus | Nichols | 1920 | Synonym |
| Chlorichthys bifasciatus | Jordan & Evermann | 1896 | Synonym |
| Julis detersor | Val | 1839 | Synonym |
| Julis gillianus | Poey | 1860 | Synonym |
| Julis nitida | Günther | 1862 | Synonym |
| Julis nitidissima | Goode | 1877 | Synonym |
| Labrus bifasciatus | Bloch | 1791 | Synonym |
| Labrus bifasciatus torquatus | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Labrus ornatus | Gronow | 1854 | Synonym |
| Labrus torquatus | Walbaum | 1792 | Synonym |
| Thalassoma bisfaciatum | Bloch | 1791 | Synonym |
| Thalassoma nitida | Günther | 1862 | Synonym |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Bluehead.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 216 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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