Home · Labridae · Blacktail wrasse
Blacktail wrasse (Anampses melanurus) — Labridae

Blacktail wrasse

Anampses melanurus
Family: Labridae

The Blacktail wrasse (Anampses melanurus) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
15.0–110.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Easter I., China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Marquesas Is., French Polynesia and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Blacktail wrasse?

Get the app

Description

The %s is a wrasse (Labridae) from %s. %s As a bottom-oriented fish it picks small invertebrates from reef and sediment. Like many wrasses it changes sex and colour. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blacktail wrasse?

The Blacktail wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Blacktail wrasse live?

The Blacktail wrasse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Easter I., China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Marquesas Is., French Polynesia and others

How big does the Blacktail wrasse get?

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

Is the Blacktail wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Blacktail 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 Blacktail wrasse edible?

Yes, the Blacktail wrasse is commonly eaten.

More photos

Blacktail wrasse (Anampses melanurus) — Labridae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Blacktail wrasse (Anampses melanurus) — Labridae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Blacktail wrasse (Anampses melanurus) — Labridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Blacktail wrasse (Anampses melanurus) — Labridae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY 4.0)
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blacktail wrasse?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blacktail wrasse is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Blacktail wrasse sourced
Scientific name
Anampses melanurus
Family
Labridae
Other names
Blacktail wrasse; New Guinea wrasse; White-spotted wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
15.0 verified
Max depth (m)
110.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Easter I., China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Marquesas Is., French Polynesia 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
Protogynous (female first) sourced
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 Anampses

More from the family Labridae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blacktail wrasse?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blacktail wrasse is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Blacktail wrasse? Get the app