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Black leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon negrosensis) — Labridae

Black leopard wrasse

Macropharyngodon negrosensis
Family: Labridae

The Black leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon negrosensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
8.0–32.0 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 black leopard wrasse is a colourful wrasse (Labridae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a dark body with a fine network of pale, round spots, like a leopard pattern. As a reef-dweller it lives on coral- and rubble-strewn bottoms between about eight and thirty metres and eats small snails, shelled forams and other small invertebrate life. At night it buries itself in the sand. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Black leopard wrasse?

The Black leopard wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly black and shows a spots pattern. Leopard pattern of pale blotches; digs in sand at night

Where does the Black leopard wrasse live?

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

How big does the Black leopard wrasse get?

The Black leopard wrasse grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Black leopard wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Black leopard 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 Black leopard wrasse edible?

The Black leopard wrasse is not usually eaten.

More photos

Black leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon negrosensis) — Labridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Black leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon negrosensis) — Labridae — 3
Jay Paroline (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Black leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon negrosensis) — Labridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Black leopard wrasse (Macropharyngodon negrosensis) — Labridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) meryllarkin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Black leopard wrasse verified
Scientific name
Macropharyngodon negrosensis
Family
Labridae
Other names
Black leopard wrasse; Black wrasse; Negros wrasse; Yellowspotted wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Black sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight 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)
8.0 verified
Max depth (m)
32.0 verified
Natural range
Western Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small snails, foraminiferans and invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
Seasonality
Reef-dwelling leopard wrasse; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Leopard pattern of pale blotches; digs in sand at night 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 Macropharyngodon

More from the family Labridae

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