Home · Labridae · Pyjama
Pyjama (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) — Labridae

Pyjama

Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Family: Labridae
LC · Least Concern

The Pyjama (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–35.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-Pacific; seaward reefs and dense coral fields to about 20 m.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Pyjama?

Get the app

Description

The sixline wrasse is a small, colourful wrasse of the family Labridae from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a purplish body with six orange longitudinal stripes and a greenish tail base with an eyespot. It lives on seaward reefs among coral branches and in dense coral fields to about 20 metres, usually in small, loose groups. It is a shy fish that quickly seeks shelter among coral. It feeds on small invertebrates and crustaceans. Like many wrasses it changes sex during life, from female to male. It is popular in the marine aquarium.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pyjama?

The Pyjama has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly multicoloured and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Six orange longitudinal stripes on a purple body; changes sex during its life.

Where does the Pyjama live?

The Pyjama lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-Pacific; seaward reefs and dense coral fields to about 20 m.

How big does the Pyjama get?

The Pyjama grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Pyjama dangerous to humans?

No, the Pyjama is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Pyjama edible?

The Pyjama is not usually eaten.

More photos

Pyjama (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) — Labridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Lonnie Huffman (CC BY 3.0)
Pyjama (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) — Labridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) François Libert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Pyjama (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) — Labridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) John Sear, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Pyjama (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) — Labridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Pyjama?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Pyjama is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Pyjama verified
Scientific name
Pseudocheilinus hexataenia
Family
Labridae
Other names
Pyjama; Sixline wrasse; Sixstripe wrasse; Six-line wrasse; Sixlined wrasse; Six-lined wrasse; Wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Multicoloured inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes inferred
Tail shape
Rounded 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)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
35.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-Pacific; seaward reefs and dense coral fields to about 20 m. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates and crustaceans sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups 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
Special features
Six orange longitudinal stripes on a purple body; changes sex during its life. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Pseudocheilinus

More from the family Labridae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Pyjama?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Pyjama is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Pyjama? Get the app