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Earmuff wrasse (Halichoeres bicolor) — Labridae

Earmuff wrasse

Halichoeres bicolor
Family: Labridae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Earmuff wrasse (Halichoeres bicolor) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The bicolor wrasse is a small wrasse from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has an elongate body with a variable, partly green and partly paler colour pattern that changes with life stage. As a reef-dweller it searches over sand and rubble bottoms for small crustaceans, molluscs and worms. Like many wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite: fish begin as females and can later become males. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Earmuff wrasse?

The Earmuff wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly green and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Earmuff wrasse live?

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

How big does the Earmuff wrasse get?

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

Is the Earmuff wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Earmuff wrasse is harmless to humans.

Is the Earmuff wrasse edible?

The Earmuff wrasse is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tweekleurige lipvis verified
English name
Earmuff wrasse verified
Scientific name
Halichoeres bicolor
Family
Labridae
Other names
Pearly-spotted wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded 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)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Halichoeres

More from the family Labridae

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