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Azurio tuskfish (Choerodon azurio) — Labridae

Azurio tuskfish

Choerodon azurio
Family: Labridae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Azurio tuskfish (Choerodon azurio) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Northwest Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The scarbreast tuskfish is a large wrasse from the northwest Pacific, around Japan, Taiwan and China. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a deep, red-brown body with a conspicuous oblique blue band behind the head and blue accents; protruding, tusk-like teeth project from the mouth. As a reef-dweller it crushes molluscs, crustaceans and sea urchins with these strong teeth. Like many wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite. It is a valued food fish. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Azurio tuskfish?

The Azurio tuskfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a plain pattern. Protruding tusk-like teeth and a blue oblique band; protogynous hermaphrodite

Where does the Azurio tuskfish live?

The Azurio tuskfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Northwest Pacific

How big does the Azurio tuskfish get?

The Azurio tuskfish grows to a maximum of about 40 cm.

Is the Azurio tuskfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Azurio tuskfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Azurio tuskfish edible?

Yes, the Azurio tuskfish is commonly eaten.

More photos

Azurio tuskfish (Choerodon azurio) — Labridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) akio.suzuki, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Azurio tuskfish (Choerodon azurio) — Labridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) tern911, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Azurio tuskfish (Choerodon azurio) — Labridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Azurio tuskfish (Choerodon azurio) — Labridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Mike Yan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Azurio tuskfish verified
Scientific name
Choerodon azurio
Family
Labridae
Other names
Scarbreast tuskfin; Toothed Wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
40.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
Northwest Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Molluscs, crustaceans and sea urchins inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Reef-dwelling tuskfish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Protruding tusk-like teeth and a blue oblique band; protogynous hermaphrodite sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Handlines sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Choerodon

More from the family Labridae

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