Cloud Wrasse, Halichoeres nebulosus (Valenciennes, 1830)

Scientific name: Halichoeres nebulosus
Alternative name/s:
Clouded Rainbow-fish, Clouded Rainbowfish, Clouded Wrasse, Nebulous Wrasse
Similar species:
The Cloud Wrasse is classified in the family Labridae. It looks similar to several other species of Halichoeres (especially the Pink-belly Wrasse H. margaritaceus), but can usually be separated by cheek colouration.
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    15/02/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Cloud Wrasse, Halichoeres nebulosus Click to enlarge image
A Cloud Wrasse at a depth of 23 m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, July 2001. Image: Ian Shaw
© Ian Shaw

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Halichoeres
    Species
    nebulosus
    Family
    Labridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The Cloud Wrasse grows to 12 cm in length.

Introduction

Adult Cloud Wrasse have a boomerang-shaped pinkish mark on the cheek. The species occurs on coral and rocky reefs in tropical marine waters and some temperate waters of the Indo-West Pacific.

Identification

Adult Cloud Wrasse have a boomerang-shaped pinkish mark on the cheek. The fish in the image is a juvenile in which the anterior part of the boomerang marking is indistinct but the descending posterior region is visible.

Habitat

The species is found on coral and rocky reefs.

Distribution

It occurs widely in tropical marine waters and some temperate waters of the Indo-West Pacific. In Australia it occurs off north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef to the central 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. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  6. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.