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Related Articles: Wrasses, Anampses, Hogfishes/Bodianus, Maori Wrasses/Cheilinus & Oxycheilinus, Fairy/Velvet Wrasses/Cirrhilabrus, Coris & Coris gaimard, Bird Wrasses/Gomphosus, Halichoeres, Cleaner Wrasses/Labroides, Tubelip Wrasses/Labropsis, Leopard Wrasses/Macropharyngodon, Pencil Wrasses/Pseudojuloides, RazorfishesPseudocheilinus, Stethojulis, Thalassoma

Over to other Regional Accounts of Wrasses

Wrasses of Indonesia

Part Two of Three

To Part: One, Three,

By Bob Fenner

Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis

Genus Cirrhilabrus:

Cirrhilabrus adornatus Randall & Kunzmann 1998.  
Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis Aquarium photos of a young (6.5 cm.) and older male by Hiroyuki Tanaka.

Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura (Bleeker 1851), the Blueside Wrasse. Western Pacific. To six inches in length. N. Sulawesi male at right. Below: Aquarium photo of male, one in Gili Air, Lombok Indonesia, and  another male in an aquariums. Female in N. Sulawesi. 

Cirrhilabrus exquisitus Smith 1957, the Exquisite Wrasse. Indo-west Pacific, to the Tuamotus. To nearly five inches in length. Aquarium and Fiji images of  males, the last "flashing".

Cirrhilabrus filamentosus (Klausewitz 1976), the Whip-fin Wrasse. Shown: a male in the Gilis and  a 9 cm. male in an aquarium by Hiroyuki Tanaka.  

Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis Randall & Carpenter 1980, the Yellow-fin Fairy Wrasse. To 5.7 cm. Western Pacific; Indonesia and Philippines. Aquarium photos of a 3 cm. female and 6 cm. male by Hiroyuki Tanaka.

Cirrhilabrus lubbocki Randall & Carpenter 1980, Lubbock's Wrasse. Western central Pacific; Philippines, Celebes/Indonesia. At right a male by Hiroyuki Tanaka. Below: The first male in captivity a second off Pulau Redang, Malaysia, the last in N. Sulawesi.

Cirrhilabrus rubripinnis Randall & Carpenter 1980, the Redfin Wrasse. Western central Pacific. Imported from the Philippines. A tough fish where collected, shipped properly. Shown: a male and female in N. Sulawesi.

Cirrhilabrus solorensis, Redheaded or Solar Fairy Wrasse. Male in an aquarium, females in Gili Air, Lombok and N. Sulawesi, Indonesia (1); Only comes out of Indonesia. http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=60815&genusname=Cirrhilabrus&speciesname=solorensis

Cirrhilabrus temminckii Bleeker 1853, the Threadfin Wrasse.  
Cirrhilabrus tonozukai Allen & Kuiter 1999, Tonozuka's Fairy Wrasse. Western Pacific; Indonesia. At right, a young male of 5 cm. by Hiroyuki Tanaka. Below, females and two displaying males in Sulawesi by RMF, second row, aquarium photos of a male, females by Hiroyuki Tanaka

Genus Coris:

Coris aygula Lacepede 1801, the Twinspot or Clown Coris (2), is oh-so-cute when little; at about 3-5 inches it starts to transform into a light in the front, dark in the back female. But as they say on late night TV, "Wait, there's more". At a foot or so in length females change again to darkish green with a white body band males that grow to three plus feet in length! Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea to the Line Islands in distribution. Below are a three inch juvenile, a six inch female and two foot male in the Red Sea.

Coris batuensis (Bleeker 1856), the Batu Coris. Indo-Pacific, but not the Red Sea, to Tonga. Another mid-size species, to seven inches in length, that would do well for aquarists. Rarely collected for the trade. At right, initial and terminal individuals in N. Sulawesi. Below: One in the Maldives, and Australian waters.

Coris caudimacula (Quoy & Gaimard 1834), the Spottail Coris. Indian Ocean, including Red Sea, to Australia. To eight inches in length. A female and male in the upper Red Sea's Gulf of Aqaba. 

Coris dorsomacula Fowler 1908, the Pale-Barred Coris. Western Pacific. To eight inches in length. This one off of Queensland, Australia. 

Coris gaimard (Quoy & Gaimard 1824), the Yellowtail Coris or Gaimard's Wrasse is THE Coris Wrasse to most hobbyists (1). Depending on life stage this fish also goes by the common appellations as the Red (as young) and Yellowtail Coris. To a mere sixteen inches in length. Indo-Pacific out to Hawai'i. where these images of a juvenile, female and male were made.

Genus Diproctacanthus:

Diproctacanthus xanthurus (Bleeker 1856), the Yellowtail Tubelip Wrasse. Indo-Australia; Philippines, Palau, Indonesia, to the GBR. To four inches in length. Juveniles are cleaners, adults feed on coral polyps. Juvenile and adult in Pulau Redang, Malaysia, and middle (intermediate age/size, initial phase) individual in N. Sulawesi.

Genus Epibulus:

Genus Epibulus: The Sling-Jaw Wrasse, Epibulus insidiator (Pallas, 1770) is showing up more and more in the industry, and is a real winner looks-wise, though I'll still have to rate it a moderate score (2) in historical hardiness. Below: Juvenile with distinctive markings, females are golden yellow over-all, while males are blackish in the back, pale on the face, with an orange-brown "coat" on their back. To fourteen inches total length. Indo-Pacific.

Genus Gomphosus:

Gomphosus caeruleus Lacepede 1801, the Blue, or Red Sea Bird Wrasse (1) is found in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Males are dark azure blue, and females white to yellow below and dark greenish blue above. To one foot in length. At right a half inch juvenile. Below: two inch juvenile, four inch female, seven inch male. Images made in the Red Sea. Last image by Mike.K http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=7744&genusname=Gomphosus&speciesname=caeruleus

Gomphosus varius Lacepede 1801, is the much more common Bird Wrasse (1) in the west. Its males are lighter green over-all, and females transversely white to black front to back, with an orangish upper "beak". The common Bird Wrasse is found in Hawai'i to the tropical western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean. At right, a juvenile in Hawaii. Below: Female in Hawai'i, an intermediate individual (changing from female to male), a male there and one in captivity. http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=5626&genusname=Gomphosus&speciesname=varius

Genus Halichoeres:

Halichoeres argus (Bloch & Schneider 1801), the Argus Wrasse. Indo-west Pacific. To almost five inches in length. This juvenile in Fiji.

Halichoeres binotopsis Bleeker 1849, West Pacific; Singapore to PNG, Indonesia. To nine cm. Here in N. Sulawesi. http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=12789&genusname=Halichoeres&speciesname=binotopsis

Halichoeres biocellatus Schultz 1960, the Red Lined Wrasse. Western Pacific; Philippines, S. Japan to GBR. To 12 cm. This one in S. Sulawesi. http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=5627&genusname=Halichoeres&speciesname=biocellatus

Halichoeres chloropterus (Bloch 1791), the Pastel Green Wrasse. Indo-Australia; Philippines to the GBR. To nearly eight inches in length. This one off of Pulau Redang, Malaysia. 

Halichoeres chrysus Randall 1981 (1), is a fish of two "good" and one bad common name. It should be called the Golden or Canary Wrasse for its bright bold sun-yellow color, but is most often listed as the Yellow Coris Wrasse (Arggghhh!, it is not a Coris genus member of course). This is an exemplary aquarium species that is suitable for peaceful fish-only and reef systems. To a mere 4 inches or so total length. Aquarium & S. Sulawesi photos. Eastern Indian Ocean distribution. http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=4855&genusname=Halichoeres&speciesname=chrysus

Halichoeres hartzfeldii (Bleeker 1852), Hartzfeld's Wrasse. Western Pacific; Indonesia to S. Japan. To 18 cm.  Usually found over sand, mud or rubble in haremic groups of one male, a few females. N. Sulawesi pix.

Halichoeres hortulanus (Lacepede 1801), the Checkerboard Wrasse (2), comes in two varieties, the more common one from the Pacific and a more colorful color morph in the Indian Ocean into the Red Sea. Pictured: At right a tiny juvenile (hovering over a Fungiid) in S. Sulawesi. Below: A juvenile of about two inches length, and a "pair" in the Maldives. A larger Halichoeres at ten or so inches in an aquarium. http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=12663&genusname=Halichoeres&speciesname=hortulanus

Halichoeres kallochroma Bleeker 1853. To nine cm. Similar to Thailand (to Indo.?) H. leucurus... this one off of N. Sulawesi.

Halichoeres leucurus (Walbaum 1792), the Greyhead Wrasse. Western Pacific; Philippines to New Guinea, Indonesia, Micronesia. To a bit over five inches total length. A female off N. Sulawesi. male off of Gili Air, Lombok, Indonesia.

Halichoeres margaritaceus (Valenciennes 1839), the Pink-belly Wrasse. Indo-Pacific. To five inches in length. Fiji and aquarium images.

Halichoeres marginatus Ruppell 1835, the Dusky Wrasse. Indo-Pacific, including the Red Sea, out to Hawai'i and the Tuamotus. To seven inches in length. Aquarium, Australian, Fiji images.
Halichoeres melanurus (Bleeker 1851), the Tail-spot Wrasse. West central Pacific. To five inches. An occasional import out of Fiji. Initial phase in Fiji, terminal off Heron Island, Australia's GBR.

Halichoeres melasmapomus Randall 1981, the Cheekspot Wrasse. Indo-West Pacific. To ten inches total length. Occasionally shows up in our interest, often sold as a "miscellaneous" wrasse. This juvenile photographed in the Cook Islands.

Halichoeres ornatissimus (Garrett 1863) is (one of) the three " Christmas Wrasses" (2), aka the Ornate Wrasse to science. This can be a very hardy fish should you secure an initially healthy specimen. Unfortunately, way to many are doomed from the trauma of rough handling through the collection process. To six inches. Below: A juvenile in S. Sulawesi and Aquarium and Hawai'i photos or adults. Indo-Pacific to Hawai'i, where it is best imported from. http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=6664&genusname=Halichoeres&speciesname=ornatissimus

Halichoeres podostigma (Bleeker 1854), the Axilspot Wrasse. Western Central Pacific; Indonesia, Philippines. To 12 inches in length. This one in S. Sulawesi. http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=4861&genusname=Halichoeres&speciesname=podostigma

Halichoeres prosopeion (Bleeker 1853), the Two-tone Wrasse. Western Pacific. To five inches in length. An occasional import from a few countries. N. Sulawesi, Fiji and Australian photographs of very young, juvenile and adult.
Halichoeres scapularis (Bennett 1832), the Zigzag Wrasse. Indo-west Pacific including the Red Sea. To eight inches in length. An occasional import into the aquarium trade. A good sand sifter as most of the genus. Male in Pulau Redang, Malaysia, and female and terminal individuals in N. Sulawesi.

Halichoeres trimaculatus (Quoy & Gaimard 1824), the Three-spot Wrasse. Indo-Pacific. To eleven inches in length. Adults in the Cook Islands and Fiji. This species used as food and occasionally in the aquarium trade.

Halichoeres vrolikii (Bleeker 1853), the Indian Ocean Pinstriped Wrasse. Indo-West Pacific. To five inches in length. One in the Maldives, another in S. Sulawesi. Only occasionally seen in the west.  http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/Summary/speciesSummary.php?ID=25690&genusname=Halichoeres&speciesname=vrolikii

Halichoeres zeylonicus (Bennett 1833), the Goldstripe Wrasse. Indo-west Pacific, including the Red Sea. To eight inches in length. Aquarium and Maldives images.

To Part: One, Three,

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