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Home > Fishes
> Wrasses
Updated 10/27/2024
Family Labridae,
Wrasses
Wrasses are colorful members of reef
and sand flat communities. They are active
during the day, feeding upon a
variety of small animals, detritus, and small amounts of algae, and sleep buried
in sand or deep within the reef at night. They swim by flapping
the pectoral fins. Wrasses can be difficult to identify
without some experience, complicated by color differences exhibited by
fish in different stages of growth. All species are born female
and usually go through one or two juvenile color phases before
adulthood, which is known as the initial phase. Under the right
circumstances a female can transform, irreversibly, into a male with a
very different color pattern, referred to as a terminal or supermale.
Many wrasses live as harems with several females tended by a supermale,
however some imposter males may retain female coloration to compete with
the supermale. Of 45 species recorded from Hawai'i, 15 are found
nowhere else. Hawaiians
referred to many of these as hīnālea or hilu. Only
the Hawaiian Hogfish and Razorfishes are eaten on a regular basis.
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HAWAII - ENDEMIC
Coris flavovittata
YELLOWSTRIPE CORIS, juvenile
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Coris ballieui
LINED CORIS, juvenile
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Coris flavovittata
YELLOWSTRIPE CORIS, female
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Coris ballieui
LINED CORIS, female
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Coris flavovittata
YELLOWSTRIPE CORIS, male
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Coris ballieui
LINED CORIS, male
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Coris venusta
ELEGANT CORIS, juvenile
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Macropharyngodon geoffroy
SHORTNOSED WRASSE, juvenile
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Coris venusta
ELEGANT CORIS, female
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Macropharyngodon geoffroy
SHORTNOSED WRASSE, female
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Coris venusta
ELEGANT CORIS, male
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Macropharyngodon geoffroy
SHORTNOSED WRASSE, male
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Anampses chrysocephalus
PSYCHEDELIC WRASSE,
juvenile
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Stethojulis balteata
BELTED WRASSE, juvenile
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Anampses chrysocephalus
PSYCHEDELIC WRASSE, female
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Stethojulis balteata
BELTED WRASSE, female
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Anampses chrysocephalus
PSYCHEDELIC WRASSE, male
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Stethojulis balteata
BELTED WRASSE, male
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Labroides phthirophagus
HAWAIIAN CLEANER WRASSE,
juvenile
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Labroides phthirophagus
HAWAIIAN CLEANER WRASSE,
adult
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Thalassoma duperrey x
T.
quinquevittatum
HYBRID SADDLE x FIVESTRIPE WRASSE
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Thalassoma duperrey x
T.
quinquevittatum
HYBRID SADDLE x FIVESTRIPE WRASSE
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Thalassoma duperrey x
T.
lutescens
HYBRID SADDLE x SUNSET WRASSE
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Thalassoma ballieui
BLACKTAIL or OLD WOMAN WRASSE,
juvenile |
Thalassoma duperrey
SADDLE WRASSE, juvenile
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Thalassoma ballieui
BLACKTAIL or OLD WOMAN WRASSE,
female
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Thalassoma duperrey
SADDLE WRASSE, female
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Thalassoma ballieui
BLACKTAIL or OLD WOMAN WRASSE,
male
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Thalassoma duperrey
SADDLE WRASSE, male
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Pseudojuloides cerasinus
SMALLTAIL or PENCIL WRASSE, female
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Pseudojuloides cerasinus
SMALLTAIL or PENCIL WRASSE, male
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Cirrhilabrus jordani
FLAME WRASSE, female
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Cirrhilabrus jordani
FLAME WRASSE, male
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Bodianus albotaeniatus
HAWAIIAN HOGFISH, juvenile
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Bodianus albotaeniatus
HAWAIIAN HOGFISH, subadult
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Bodianus albotaeniatus
HAWAIIAN HOGFISH, female
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Bodianus albotaeniatus
HAWAIIAN HOGFISH, male
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Bodianus sanguineus
SUNRISE WRASSE
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Bodianus
bathycapros
HAWAIIAN PIGFISH
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Anampses
cuvier
PEARL WRASSE, female
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Anampses
cuvier
PEARL WRASSE, male
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Cymolutes lecluse
HAWAIIAN
KNIFEFISH, female
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Cymolutes lecluse
HAWAIIAN
KNIFEFISH, male
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Iniistius
umbrilatus
BLACKBAR RAZORFISH |
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INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
Coris gaimard
YELLOWTAIL CORIS, juvenile
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Halichoeres ornatissimus
ORNATE WRASSE, juvenile
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Coris gaimard
YELLOWTAIL CORIS, female
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Halichoeres ornatissimus
ORNATE WRASSE,
female
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Coris gaimard
YELLOWTAIL CORIS, male
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Halichoeres ornatissimus
ORNATE WRASSE,
male
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Thalassoma trilobatum
CHRISTMAS
WRASSE, female
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Thalassoma trilobatum
CHRISTMAS
WRASSE, male
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Thalassoma purpureum
SURGE
WRASSE, female
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Thalassoma purpureum
SURGE
WRASSE, male
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Thalassoma quinquevittatum
FIVESTRIPE WRASSE, female
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Thalassoma quinquevittatum
FIVESTRIPE WRASSE, nuptial male
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Thalassoma lutescens
SUNSET WRASSE, female
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Thalassoma lutescens
SUNSET WRASSE, male
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Pseudocheilinus evanidus
CHINSTRAP or DISAPPEARING WRASSE
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Pseudocheilinus octotaenia
EIGHT-LINED WRASSE
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Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia
FOUR-LINED WRASSE
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Polylepion russelli
YELLOWSTRIPED HOGFISH
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Gomphosus varius
BIRD WRASSE, female
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Gomphosus varius
BIRD WRASSE, male
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Cheilio inermis
CIGAR WRASSE, yellow female
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Cheilio inermis
CIGAR WRASSE, male
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Novaculichthys taeniourus
ROCKMOVER WRASSE,
juvenile |
Novaculichthys taeniourus
ROCKMOVER WRASSE,
adult
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Oxycheilinus unifasciatus
RINGTAIL WRASSE, female
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Oxycheilinus unifasciatus
RINGTAIL WRASSE, male
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Oxycheilinus bimaculatus
TWOSPOT WRASSE, female
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Oxycheilinus bimaculatus
TWOSPOT WRASSE, male
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Epibulus insidiator
SLINGJAW WRASSE, juvenile
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Epibulus insidiator
SLINGJAW WRASSE, male
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Xyrichtys woodi
WOOD'S RAZORFISH
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Iniistius
baldwini
BALDWIN'S
RAZORFISH
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Iniistius
celebicus
BRONZESPOT RAZORFISH, female |
Iniistius
celebicus
BRONZESPOT RAZORFISH, male
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Iniistius pavo
PEACOCK RAZORFISH, juvenile
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Iniistius pavo
PEACOCK RAZORFISH, juvenile
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Iniistius pavo
PEACOCK RAZORFISH, black morph
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Iniistius pavo
PEACOCK RAZORFISH, adult
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Iniistius aneitensis
WHITEPATCH RAZORFISH,
juvenile |
Iniistius aneitensis
WHITEPATCH RAZORFISH,
female
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Iniistius aneitensis
WHITEPATCH RAZORFISH,
male
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INDO-PACIFIC
Thalassoma
hardwicke
SIXBAR WRASSE, female
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Thalassoma
hardwicke
SIXBAR WRASSE, male
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Thalassoma
jansenii
JANSEN'S WRASSE |
Thalassoma
nigrofasciatum
BLACKBARRED WRASSE |
Coris aygula
CLOWN CORIS, juvenile
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Coris aygula
CLOWN CORIS, female
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Thalassoma lunare
MOON WRASSE, female
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Thalassoma lunare
MOON WRASSE, male
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Thalassoma amblycephalum
BLUNTHEADED WRASSE, female
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Thalassoma amblycephalum
BLUNTHEADED WRASSE, male
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Hologymnosus doliatus
PASTEL RINGWRASSE, juvenile
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Hologymnosus doliatus
PASTEL RINGWRASSE, subadult
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Hologymnosus doliatus
PASTEL RINGWRASSE, adult |
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
SIXLINE WRASSE
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Labroides
bicolor
BICOLOR CLEANER WRASSE, juv |
Labroides
bicolor
BICOLOR CLEANER WRASSE, adult |
Labroides
rubrolabiatus
REDLIP CLEANER WRASSE |
Labroides
pectoralis
BLACKSPOT CLEANER WRASSE |
Labroides dimidiatus
BLUESTRIPE CLEANER WRASSE, juv.
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Labroides dimidiatus
BLUESTRIPE CLEANER WRASSE
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Labroides dimidiatus
BLUESTRIPE CLEANER WRASSE, orange
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Labroides dimidiatus
BLUESTRIPE CLEANER WRASSE, yellow
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Labropsis polynesica
SOUTHERN TUBELIP |
Labropsis polynesica
POLYNESIAN TUBELIP |
Labrichthys unilineatus
TUBELIP WRASSE, Juvenile |
Labrichthys unilineatus
TUBELIP WRASSE |
Halichoeres
scapularis
ZIGZAG WRASSE |
Coris batuensis
BATU CORIS |
Halichoeres
chloropterus
PASTEL-GREEN WRASSE, juvenile |
Halichoeres
hortulanus
CHECKERED WRASSE, juvenile |
Halichoeres
chloropterus
PASTEL-GREEN WRASSE, female |
Halichoeres
hortulanus
CHECKERED WRASSE, female |
Halichoeres
chloropterus
PASTEL-GREEN WRASSE, male |
Halichoeres
hortulanus
CHECKERED WRASSE, male |
Halichoeres trimaculatus
THREESPOT WRASSE, female
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Halichoeres trimaculatus
THREESPOT WRASSE, male
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Halichoeres
podostigma
AXIL-SPOT WRASSE, male |
Halichoeres richmondi
RICHMOND'S WRASSE, male |
Halichoeres melanurus
TAILSPOT WRASSE, female
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Halichoeres melanurus
TAILSPOT WRASSE, male |
Halichoeres leucurus
CHAINSPOT WRASSE, female |
Halichoeres leucurus
CHAINSPOT WRASSE, male |
Halichoeres biocellatus
RED-LINED WRASSE, female
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Halichoeres biocellatus
RED-LINED WRASSE, male |
Halichoeres argus
ARGUS WRASSE, female |
Halichoeres argus
ARGUS WRASSE, male |
Halichoeres
margaritiaceus
WEEDY SURGE WRASSE, female
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Halichoeres
margaritiaceus
WEEDY SURGE WRASSE, male |
Pseudodax moluccanus
CHISELTOOTH WRASSE
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Halichoeres
nebulosus
NEBULOUS or CLOUD WRASSE, male
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Halichoeres
prosopeion
TWO-TONE WRASSE, juvenile |
Halichoeres
prosopeion
TWO-TONE WRASSE, adult
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Halichoeres
marginatus
DUSKY WRASSE |
Halichoeres
chrysus
CANARY WRASSE |
Halichoeres
melanochir
ORANGEFIN WRASSE, Juv |
Halichoeres
melanochir
ORANGEFIN WRASSE |
Anampses twistii
YELLOWBREASTED WRASSE, juv |
Anampses twistii
YELLOWBREASTED WRASSE |
Anampses neoguinaicus
NEW GUINEA WRASSE, juv |
Anampses neoguinaicus
NEW GUINEA WRASSE, male |
Anampses caeruleopunctatus
BLUESPOTTED WRASSE, female |
Anampses meleagrides
YELLOWTAIL WRASSE, female |
Stethojulis bandanensis
RED SHOULDER WRASSE |
Stethojulis trilineata
THREE-LINED WRASSE |
Bodianus
axillaris
AXILSPOT HOGFISH, juv |
Bodianus
axillaris
AXILSPOT HOGFISH
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Bodianus
mesothorax
SPLITLEVEL HOGFISH, juv |
Bodianus
mesothorax
SPLITLEVEL HOGFISH |
Bodianus anthioides
LYRETAIL HOGFISH, juvenile |
Bodianus anthioides
LYRETAIL HOGFISH |
Bodianus dictynna
REDFIN HOGFISH |
Epibulus insidiator
SLINGJAW WRASSE, female |
Epibulus insidiator
SLINGJAW WRASSE, yellow morph |
Epibulus insidiator
SLINGJAW WRASSE, male |
Epibulus brevis
LATENT SLINGJAW WRASSE |
Epibulus brevis
LATENT SLINGJAW WRASSE |
Cheilinus undulatus
HUMPHEAD WRASSE, juvenile |
Cheilinus undulatus
HUMPHEAD WRASSE |
Choerodon anchorago
ANCHOR TUSKFISH, juvenile |
Choerodon anchorago
ANCHOR TUSKFISH |
Oxycheilinus diagramma
CHEEKLINED WRASSE, juvenile |
Oxycheilinus diagramma
CHEEKLINED WRASSE |
Oxycheilinus celebicus
SULAWESI WRASSE |
Oxycheilinus orientalis
ORIENTAL WRASSE
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Cheilinus fasciatus
REDBREASTED WRASSE, juvenile |
Cheilinus fasciatus
REDBREASTED WRASSE |
Cheilinus chlorourus
FLORAL WRASSE |
Cheilinus trilobatus
TRIPLETAIL WRASSE |
Hemigymnus melapterus
HALF-AND-HALF THICKLIP, juvenile |
Hemigymnus melapterus
HALF-AND-HALF THICKLIP |
Hemigymnus melapterus
HALF-AND-HALF THICKLIP |
Hemigymnus fasciatus
BARRED THICKLIP |
Cirrhilabrus cf. punctatus
FIJI DOTTED FAIRY WRASSE, female |
Cirrhilabrus cf. punctatus
FIJI DOTTED FAIRY WRASSE, male |
Cirrhilabrus cf. punctatus
FIJI DOTTED FAIRY WRASSE, juv |
Pseudocheilinus ocellatus
WHITE-BARRED or MYSTERY WRASSE |
Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura
BLUESIDE FAIRY WRASSE |
Cirrhilabrus ryukyuensis
YELLOWSIDE FAIRY WRASSE |
Cirrhilabrus katherinae
KATHERINE'S FAIRY WRASSE |
Cirrhilabrus condei
REDBACK FAIRY WRASSE |
Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis
ORANGE-BACK FAIRY WRASSE, male |
Cirrhilabrus exquisitus
EXQUISITE FAIRY WRASSE, juv |
Cirrhilabrus chaliasi
RUBY-HEAD FAIRY WRASSE, female |
Cirrhilabrus chaliasi
RUBY-HEAD FAIRY WRASSE, male |
Cirrhilabrus solorensis
SOLOR FAIRY WRASSE, male |
Cirrhilabrus aquamarinus
CHIN-STRAP FAIRY WRASSE, male |
Cirrhilabrus temminckii
THREADFIN FAIRY WRASSE, female |
Cirrhilabrus temminckii
THREADFIN FAIRY WRASSE, male |
Macropharyngodon
meleagris
LEOPARD WRASSE, juv |
Macropharyngodon
meleagris
LEOPARD WRASSE |
Choerodon fasciatus
HARLEQUIN TUSKFISH |
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INDIAN OCEAN
Coris cuvieri
AFRICAN CORIS, female |
Coris formosa
QUEEN CORIS, female |
Coris caudimacula
SPOT-TAIL CORIS, female |
Coris caudimacula
SPOT-TAIL CORIS, male |
Macropharyngodon
bipartitus
DIVIDED WRASSE, female |
Macropharyngodon
bipartitus
DIVIDED WRASSE, male |
Paracheilinus
flavianalis
YELLOWFIN FLASHER WRASSE, female
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Thalassoma hebraicum
GOLDBAR WRASSE, male |
EAST ASIA
Parajulis poecilepterus
Kyuusen, female
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Parajulis poecilepterus
Kyuusen, male
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Halichoeres bleekeri
BLEEKER'S WRASSE, juvenile |
Halichoeres bleekeri
BLEEKER'S WRASSE, male
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Pteragogus aurigarius
Ohaguro-bera, female
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Pteragogus aurigarius
Ohaguro-bera, male
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Choerodon
azurio
SCARBREAST TUSKFISH, female
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Choerodon
azurio
SCARBREAST TUSKFISH, male |
Stethojulis
terina
Kaminari-bera, female
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Stethojulis
terina
Kaminari-bera, male
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Thalassoma cupido
CUPID WRASSE Nishiki-bera |
Pseudolabus japonicus
Sasanoha-bera, male
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TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC
Bodianus diplotaenia
MEXICAN HOGFISH, female
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Bodianus diplotaenia
MEXICAN HOGFISH, male
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Halichoeres chierchiae
WOUNDED WRASSE, juvenile
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Halichoeres nicholsi
SPINSTER WRASSE, juvenile
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Thalassoma lucasanum
CORTEZ RAINBOW WRASSE, female
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Thalassoma lucasanum
CORTEZ RAINBOW WRASSE, male
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Halichoeres semicinctus
ROCK WRASSE, female
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Halichoeres semicinctus
ROCK WRASSE, male
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Oxyjulis californica
SENORITA
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Semicossyphus pulcher
CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD, juvenile |
Semicossyphus pulcher
CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD, female
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Semicossyphus pulcher
CALIFORNIA SHEEPHEAD, male |
TROPICAL WESTERN ATLANTIC
Thalassoma bifasciatum
BLUEHEAD WRASSE, female
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Thalassoma bifasciatum
BLUEHEAD WRASSE, male
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Halichoeres bivittatus
SLIPPERY DICK WRASSE, female
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Halichoeres bivittatus
SLIPPERY DICK WRASSE, female
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Halichoeres
poeyi
BLACKEAR WRASSE, female
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Halichoeres
poeyi
BLACKEAR WRASSE, male
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Halichoeres
maculipinna
CLOWN WRASSE, female
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Halichoeres
maculipinna
CLOWN WRASSE, male
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Halichoeres garnoti
YELLOWHEAD WRASSE, juvenile
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Halichoeres garnoti
YELLOWHEAD WRASSE, male |
Halichoeres
radiatus
PUDDINGWIFE WRASSE
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Clepticus parrae
CREOLE WRASSE
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Bodianus rufus
SPANISH HOGFISH, juvenile
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Bodianus rufus
SPANISH HOGFISH
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Lachnolaimus maximus
HOGFISH, female |
Lachnolaimus maximus
HOGFISH, male |
Xyrichtys martinicensis
ROSY RAZORFISH, female |
Xyrichtys splendens
GREEN RAZORFISH, juvenile |
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