Home > Fishes > Wrasses > Novaculichthys taeniourus

Updated 10/25/2023

Family Labridae

INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII

TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC

Novaculichthys taeniourus

Juvenile, Kahalu'u, Hawai'i, 5 feet

Juvenile, Kea'au, O'ahu, 50 feet

 


Juvenile, Sand Island, O'ahu, 15 feet

Juvenile, Ahihi Cove, Maui

Puako, Hawai'i, 30 feet

 

Hanauma Bay, O'ahu, 5 feet



Subadult, Ke'ei, Hawai'i, 25 feet
 

ROCKMOVER WRASSE

Adults are uncommon in shallow water where it turns rocks or rubble in search of mobile invertebrates.  Ornate brown or green juveniles move like a piece of drifting seaweed, diving under sand when threatened.  Attains 12 inches.  Red Sea to Okinawa, Hawai'i, French Polynesia, and Tropical Eastern Pacific.  Formerly known as Hemipteronotus taeniourus, juveniles as Novaculichthys bifer.

Video of bright green juvenile at Po'ipu, Kauai by Erik Burton

Video of juveniles from Maui by Mike Ploessel