Blacktail Wrasse, Anampses melanurus juvenile Click to enlarge image
A Blacktail Wrasse at a depth of 16 m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, March 1996. Image: Rudie Kuiter
© Rudie Kuiter

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Anampses
    Species
    melanurus
    Family
    Labridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to about 12 cm in length.

Introduction

The Blacktail Wrasse is black with white spots and a yellow bar across the basal region of the caudal fin. It grows to about 12 cm and occurs throughout the tropical Indo-West and Central Pacific.

Identification

The Blacktail Wrasse is a small fish that can be recognised by its colouration. It is black with white spots and a yellow bar across the basal region of the caudal fin.

Habitat

Blacktail Wrasse occurs in coral reef and inshore waters.

Distribution

This species occurs throughout the tropical Indo-West and Central Pacific.

In Australia it has been recorded from the offshore reefs of north-western Australia. The fish in the image however, was photographed in northern New South Wales. This is the first record of the species on the east coast of Australia.

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.