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Exquisite fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus) — Labridae

Exquisite fairy wrasse

Cirrhilabrus exquisitus
Family: Labridae

The Exquisite fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
6.0–40.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel) and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The exquisite fairy wrasse is a small, colourful wrasse (Labridae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm; dominant males are green with red, blue and yellow tones and flush spectacularly in courtship, while females are plainer. As a reef-dweller it hovers in groups above coral-rich slopes and picks small zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans and is loved in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Exquisite fairy wrasse?

The Exquisite fairy wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly green.

Where does the Exquisite fairy wrasse live?

The Exquisite fairy wrasse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel) and others

How big does the Exquisite fairy wrasse get?

The Exquisite fairy wrasse grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Exquisite fairy wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Exquisite fairy 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 Exquisite fairy wrasse edible?

Yes, the Exquisite fairy wrasse is commonly eaten.

More photos

Exquisite fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus) — Labridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Exquisite fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus) — Labridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Exquisite fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus) — Labridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Exquisite fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus) — Labridae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Exquisite fairy wrasse sourced
Scientific name
Cirrhilabrus exquisitus
Family
Labridae
Other names
Exquisite wrasse; Exquisite fairy-wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
6.0 verified
Max depth (m)
40.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Solomon Is., China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel) and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
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 Cirrhilabrus

Blue-scaled fairy-wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura) — Labridae
Blue-scaled fairy-wrasse
Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura
Labridae
 Deepwater fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus) — Labridae
Deepwater fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus
Labridae
 Earle's fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus earlei) — Labridae
Earle's fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus earlei
Labridae
 Joan's fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus joanallenae) — Labridae
Joan's fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus joanallenae
Labridae
 Johnson's fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus johnsoni) — Labridae
Johnson's fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus johnsoni
Labridae
 Marjorie's fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus marjorie) — Labridae
Marjorie's fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus marjorie
Labridae

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Fin

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