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Biocellate wrasse (Halichoeres biocellatus) — Labridae

Biocellate wrasse

Halichoeres biocellatus
Family: Labridae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Biocellate wrasse (Halichoeres biocellatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
6.0–35.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The biocellate wrasse is a small wrasse from the Western Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a greenish body with orange and blue lines and two eyespots on the dorsal fin. As a reef-dweller it searches over coral and rubble for small crustaceans, molluscs and worms. Like many wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite: fish begin as females and can later become males. The fish appears in the reef aquarium. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Biocellate wrasse?

The Biocellate wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly green and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Two eyespots on the dorsal fin; protogynous hermaphrodite

Where does the Biocellate wrasse live?

The Biocellate wrasse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Pacific

How big does the Biocellate wrasse get?

The Biocellate wrasse grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Biocellate wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Biocellate wrasse 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 Biocellate wrasse edible?

The Biocellate wrasse is not usually eaten.

More photos

Biocellate wrasse (Halichoeres biocellatus) — Labridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Biocellate wrasse (Halichoeres biocellatus) — Labridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Biocellate wrasse (Halichoeres biocellatus) — Labridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Biocellate wrasse (Halichoeres biocellatus) — Labridae — 5
Curtis Hart (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Biocellate wrasse verified
Scientific name
Halichoeres biocellatus
Family
Labridae
Other names
False-eyed wrasse; Redlined wrasse; Red-lined wrasse; Twospot wrasse; Two-spotted wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes 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
Min depth (m)
6.0 verified
Max depth (m)
35.0 verified
Natural range
Western Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small crustaceans, molluscs and worms inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Coral-dwelling reef wrasse; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Two eyespots on the dorsal fin; protogynous hermaphrodite sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
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 Halichoeres

More from the family Labridae

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