Wrangling the wrasses: Taxonomy and evolutionary history of Labrid fishes

Presented by Jenny Wang

PhD Candidate, The University of Sydney

Supervisors: Prof Simon Ho (USyd), Dr Yi-Kai Tea (AM)

The family Labridae (wrasses) is one of the most speciose and evolutionarily complex groups of marine fishes. With over 600 species spanning wide morphological and ecological ranges, labrids provide an excellent opportunity to explore diverse biological, ecological, and evolutionary processes. However, progress is hindered by taxonomic ambiguities, incomplete phylogenetic reconstruction, and uncertain species boundaries. Further questions remain regarding interspecific boundaries, in particular, the evolutionary mechanisms driving colour pattern diversification among syntopic species with poor phylogenetic signal but are otherwise reproductively isolated.

Jenny aims to investigate how different evolutionary drivers can produce the remarkable diversity observed across Labridae. By integrating morphological assessments with genomic analyses, Jenny will revise taxonomically problematic labrid genera and examine the drivers underlying Cirrhilabrus (fairy wrasse) colour pattern diversity in syntopic species complexes. Together, this work will contribute to the accurate classification of species in a major coral reef fish family and clarify the processes shaping marine biodiversity.