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Black-blotched rainbowfish (Halichoeres chloropterus) — Labridae

Black-blotched rainbowfish

Halichoeres chloropterus
Family: Labridae
LC · Least Concern

The Black-blotched rainbowfish (Halichoeres chloropterus) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
19 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–10.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The pastel-green wrasse is a wrasse (Labridae) from the western Pacific. Adults are predominantly pastel green, sometimes with pinkish markings; juveniles are light green with dark spots. It inhabits shallow, protected coral reefs and adjacent silty sand and rubble bottoms. As a bottom predator it feeds mainly on hard-shelled prey such as molluscs and crustaceans, which it crushes with its jaw teeth. Like many wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Black-blotched rainbowfish?

The Black-blotched rainbowfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly green and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Black-blotched rainbowfish live?

The Black-blotched rainbowfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Black-blotched rainbowfish get?

The Black-blotched rainbowfish grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Black-blotched rainbowfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Black-blotched rainbowfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Black-blotched rainbowfish edible?

The Black-blotched rainbowfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Pastelgroene lipvis sourced
English name
Black-blotched rainbowfish verified
Scientific name
Halichoeres chloropterus
Family
Labridae
Other names
Black-blotched wrasse; Dark-blotch wrasse; Green-spotted wrasse; Java wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
19.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green inferred
Pattern
Plain 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)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
10.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. 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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