Purple Wrasse, Notolabrus fucicola (Richardson, 1840)
Scientific name: Notolabrus fucicola
Alternative name/s:
Banded Parrotfish, Blue Wrasse, Kelpie, Parrotfish, Purple Parrotfish, Saddled Wrasse, Southern Wrasse, Winter Bream, Yellow-saddled Wrasse
Banded Parrotfish, Blue Wrasse, Kelpie, Parrotfish, Purple Parrotfish, Saddled Wrasse, Southern Wrasse, Winter Bream, Yellow-saddled Wrasse
Click to enlarge image
A Purple Wrasse, Notolabrus fucicola, at a depth of 3m, Parsley Bay, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, 8 October 2016. This fish is the first Australian Museum record of the species from Sydney Harbour. Thank you to Derrick Cruz for bringing it to our attention.
Image: Evan Leeson
© Evan Leeson
© Evan Leeson
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Notolabrus
- Species
- fucicola
- Family
- Labridae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to 45 cm in length.
A Purple Wrasse, Notolabrus fucicola, at a depth of 37 m, Montague Island, New South Wales, 30 September 2002.
Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Introduction
The Purple Wrasse is greenish-blue, brown or purplish, usually with yellow blotches. It occurs on rocky reefs in temperate coastal waters.
Identification
The Purple Wrasse is greenish-blue, brown or purplish with five yellow to white blotches along the upper sides.
A Purple Wrasse at the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory, 6 July 2012.
Image: Andrew King
© Andrew King
© Andrew King
Habitat
It is seen usually need on rocky reefs.
Distribution
It occurs in temperate coastal waters of Australia and New Zealand. In Australia it is known from southern New South Wales and around the south of the country to eastern South 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
- Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
- 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.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Russell, B.C & M.F. Gomon. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
