Home > Fishes > Wrasses > Iniistius aneitensis

Updated 1/27/2013

Family Labridae

EAST INDO-WEST PACIFIC / HAWAII

Iniistius aneitensis

Juvenile, Sharks Cove, Oahu, 30 feet

 

Kewalo, Oahu, 90 feet

Juvenile, Makua, Oahu, 30 feet

 

 

Subadult, Makua, Oahu, 35 feet

 

 

Juvenile, Kailua Bay, Hawaii, 35 feet

Blowhole, Oahu, 25 feet

WHITEPATCH RAZORFISH

Uncommon over sand at scuba depths but juveniles are common during summer.  Juveniles light with brown blotches and two false eye spots on the dorsal fin, adults gray with large white patch behind the pectoral fins and three dark vertical blotches, males with a yellow patch forward of the white patch, dark in females.  Black individuals are rare and nearly indistinguishable from black Iniistius pavo.  Feeds upon invertebrates and dives into the sand when threatened.  Attains 8 inches.  Maldives to Okinawa, Hawai'i, and Fiji.  Formerly known as Hemipteronotus niveilatus.