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Oriental maori wrasse (Oxycheilinus orientalis) — Labridae

Oriental maori wrasse

Oxycheilinus orientalis
Family: Labridae

The Oriental maori wrasse (Oxycheilinus orientalis) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–80.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Guam, Indonesia and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Oriental maori wrasse is a wrasse (Labridae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 20 cm and has an elongate body with a pointed snout. The red-brown body bears fine lines on the head. As a bottom-oriented predator it searches coral and rocky reefs for small fish, crustaceans and molluscs. Like many wrasses it changes sex. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Oriental maori wrasse?

The Oriental maori wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly green.

Where does the Oriental maori wrasse live?

The Oriental maori wrasse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Guam, Indonesia and others

How big does the Oriental maori wrasse get?

The Oriental maori wrasse grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Oriental maori wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Oriental maori 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 Oriental maori wrasse edible?

Yes, the Oriental maori wrasse is commonly eaten.

More photos

Oriental maori wrasse (Oxycheilinus orientalis) — Labridae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Oriental maori wrasse (Oxycheilinus orientalis) — Labridae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Oriental maori wrasse (Oxycheilinus orientalis) — Labridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Oriental maori wrasse (Oxycheilinus orientalis) — Labridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Oriental maori wrasse sourced
Scientific name
Oxycheilinus orientalis
Family
Labridae
Other names
Oriental wrasse; Slender maori wrasse; Thick-stripe maori wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
80.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Guam, Indonesia and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates 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

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 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 Oxycheilinus

More from the family Labridae

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