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Dotted wrasse (Anampses meleagrides) — Labridae

Dotted wrasse

Anampses meleagrides
Family: Labridae
LC · Least Concern

The Dotted wrasse (Anampses meleagrides) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 22 cm.

Length
22 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–60.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific; seaward reefs.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The spotted wrasse is a wrasse (Labridae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a dark body densely covered with white spots and a yellow tail; males and females differ in colour. Adults live on seaward reefs with mixed coral, rubble, consolidated limestone and sand. With its protruding incisor teeth it picks small invertebrates from the bottom. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dotted wrasse?

The Dotted wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Dark body with white spots and a yellow tail; picks invertebrates off the reef with incisor teeth.

Where does the Dotted wrasse live?

The Dotted wrasse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific; seaward reefs.

How big does the Dotted wrasse get?

The Dotted wrasse grows to a maximum of about 22 cm.

Is the Dotted wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Dotted wrasse is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Dotted wrasse edible?

The Dotted wrasse is rarely eaten.

More photos

Dotted wrasse (Anampses meleagrides) — Labridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Dotted wrasse (Anampses meleagrides) — Labridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Dotted wrasse (Anampses meleagrides) — Labridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) josepvilanova, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Dotted wrasse (Anampses meleagrides) — Labridae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Elisabeth Morcel (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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All data

Identification

English name
Dotted wrasse verified
Scientific name
Anampses meleagrides
Family
Labridae
Other names
Dotted wrasse; Marble wrasse; Speckled wrasse; Spotted wrasse; Yellowtail wrasse; Yellow tail tamarin; Yellowtail tamarin; Yellow-tail tamarin verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
22.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
60.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific; seaward reefs. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small bottom-dwelling invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary 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
Special features
Dark body with white spots and a yellow tail; picks invertebrates off the reef with incisor teeth. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Anampses

More from the family Labridae

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