False-eyed Wrasse, Halichoeres biocellatus (Schultz, 1960)

Scientific name: Halichoeres biocellatus
Alternative name/s:
Biocellate Wrasse, Red-lined Wrasse
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    12/03/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
False-eyed Wrasse Click to enlarge image
A False-eyed Wrasse at a depth of 21m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, January 2003. Image: Ian Shaw
© Ian Shaw

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Halichoeres
    Species
    biocellatus
    Family
    Labridae
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 12 cm in length.

Introduction

Female False-eyed Wrasse are green with orange stripes anteriorly that break into spots on the rear of the body, whereas males have reddish stripes along the body and a U-shaped mark on the caudal peduncle. The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific.

Identification

Female False-eyed Wrasse are green with orange stripes anteriorly that break into spots on the rear of the body. They have two distinctive ocelli on the dorsal fin.

Mature males have reddish stripes along the body and a U-shaped mark on the caudal peduncle. They have no ocelli in the dorsal fin.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific. In Australia it is known from north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland south to the southern coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  6. Kuiter, R.H. 2002. Fairy and Rainbow Wrasses and their Relatives. A Comprehensive Guide to Selected Labroids. TMC Publishing. Pp. 208.
  7. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.