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Comettailed wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) — Labridae

Comettailed wrasse

Oxycheilinus bimaculatus
Family: Labridae
LC · Least Concern

The Comettailed wrasse (Oxycheilinus bimaculatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16.4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–120.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The twospot wrasse is a wrasse (Labridae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a slender, greenish to red-brown body with fine lines on the head and can extend its tail fin into a point. It inhabits outer reef slopes and deep, clear lagoons among rubble, clumps of algae and seagrass, often in sheltered spots. As a predator it picks small crustaceans, molluscs and small fishes. Like many wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Comettailed wrasse?

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

Where does the Comettailed wrasse live?

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

How big does the Comettailed wrasse get?

The Comettailed wrasse grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the Comettailed wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Comettailed wrasse is harmless to humans.

Is the Comettailed wrasse edible?

The Comettailed wrasse is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tweevlek-lipvis sourced
English name
Comettailed wrasse verified
Scientific name
Oxycheilinus bimaculatus
Family
Labridae
Other names
Doublespot wrasse; Little maori; Little maori wrasse; Twospot maori wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.4 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)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
120.0 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
Rarely 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 Oxycheilinus

More from the family Labridae

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