Home · Labridae · Morrison's fairy wrasse
Morrison's fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus morrisoni) — Labridae

Morrison's fairy wrasse

Cirrhilabrus morrisoni
Family: Labridae

The Morrison's fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus morrisoni) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
5.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
23.0–35.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia

Want the complete picture on the Morrison's fairy wrasse?

Get the app

Description

The Morrison's fairy wrasse is a fairy wrasse (Labridae) from reef water of the western Pacific. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a slender, orange-pink with blue lines body; courting males light up spectacularly and spread their fins. As a day-active fish it hovers in small groups above coral and rubble slopes and snaps at small zooplankton in the current. Like many wrasses a female can change sex. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Morrison's fairy wrasse?

The Morrison's fairy wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly red-orange.

Where does the Morrison's fairy wrasse live?

The Morrison's fairy wrasse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia

How big does the Morrison's fairy wrasse get?

The Morrison's fairy wrasse grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Morrison's fairy wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Morrison's 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.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Morrison's fairy wrasse?

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

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Morrison's fairy wrasse sourced
Scientific name
Cirrhilabrus morrisoni
Family
Labridae
Other names
Morrison's wrasse; Morrison's fairy-wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
23.0 verified
Max depth (m)
35.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

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

More from the family Labridae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Morrison's fairy wrasse?

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

Get the app →
Is this the Morrison's fairy wrasse? Get the app