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Blackspot cleaner wrasse (Labroides pectoralis) — Labridae

Blackspot cleaner wrasse

Labroides pectoralis
Family: Labridae

The Blackspot cleaner wrasse (Labroides pectoralis) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel), Kiribati, Guam, Indonesia and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The blackspot cleaner wrasse is a small cleaner wrasse (Labridae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 11 cm and has a yellowish body with a black longitudinal band and a dark spot at the pectoral-fin base. At fixed 'cleaning stations' on coral reefs it removes parasites, dead tissue and mucus from larger fish, which wait patiently to be serviced. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackspot cleaner wrasse?

The Blackspot cleaner wrasse has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Blackspot cleaner wrasse live?

The Blackspot cleaner wrasse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel), Kiribati, Guam, Indonesia and others

How big does the Blackspot cleaner wrasse get?

The Blackspot cleaner wrasse grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Blackspot cleaner wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackspot cleaner 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 Blackspot cleaner wrasse edible?

Yes, the Blackspot cleaner wrasse is commonly eaten.

More photos

Blackspot cleaner wrasse (Labroides pectoralis) — Labridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Blackspot cleaner wrasse (Labroides pectoralis) — Labridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) National Coral Reef Monitoring Program - Pacific Region, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blackspot cleaner wrasse (Labroides pectoralis) — Labridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blackspot cleaner wrasse (Labroides pectoralis) — Labridae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Blackspot cleaner wrasse sourced
Scientific name
Labroides pectoralis
Family
Labridae
Other names
Black-spot cleaner wrasse; Breastspot cleaner wrasse; Breastspot cleanerfish; Cleaner wrasse; False bluestreak wrasse; Spotbreast cleanerfish; Yellow cleaner; Yellow cleaner wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel), Kiribati, Guam, Indonesia and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
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 Labroides

More from the family Labridae

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