Ornate Wrasse

Ornate Wrasse

This small colorful wrasse is named for its vivid markings: the pinkish head is marked with horizontal green lines; the throat and belly are blue; scales on the fish’s sides are marked by a vertical, crescent-shaped stripe followed by blue. The dark red dorsal fin is highlighted with green spots and traced by green and blue lines. A large dark spot on the dorsal fin and one just behind the eye are useful in identification. The colors are more intense in the larger males than in the females.

Like other members of the family Labridae, the ornate wrasse has an elongate soft body that is tapered and spindle-shaped. The dorsal fin is continuous, and like the other fins, rounded and soft. The pectoral fins are used extensively for swimming with up and down “flying” motions. The pointed snout has a terminal mouth and fleshy lips. Prominent canine teeth protrude slightly from the mouth and are effective in plucking small crustaceans and molluscs from the reef. Active predators by day, they shelter in reef crevices or bury in sand patches at night.


