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Redeye fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) — Labridae

Redeye fairy wrasse

Cirrhilabrus solorensis
Family: Labridae

The Redeye fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–35.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Christmas I., Indonesia, Timor-Leste

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Description

The Redeye fairy wrasse is a small, colourful fairy wrasse (Labridae) from the western Pacific, around Indonesia. The species grows to about 11 cm; dominant males are brightly coloured and flush in courtship, while females are plainer. Males are blue to purple with a red eye region and a yellow throat. As a reef-dweller it hovers in groups above coral-rubble slopes and picks small zooplankton. It changes sex. The fish is harmless to humans and is prized in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Redeye fairy wrasse?

The Redeye fairy wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly blue.

Where does the Redeye fairy wrasse live?

The Redeye fairy wrasse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Christmas I., Indonesia, Timor-Leste

How big does the Redeye fairy wrasse get?

The Redeye fairy wrasse grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Redeye fairy wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Redeye 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.

More photos

Redeye fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) — Labridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — desertnaturalist (CC BY 4.0)
Redeye fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) — Labridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Redeye fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) — Labridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Ivan Samra, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Redeye fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) — Labridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Wayne and Pam Osborn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Redeye fairy wrasse sourced
Scientific name
Cirrhilabrus solorensis
Family
Labridae
Other names
Solor fairy wrasse; Red-eye wrasse sourced

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
35.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Christmas I., Indonesia, Timor-Leste sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
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

Blue-scaled fairy-wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura) — Labridae
Blue-scaled fairy-wrasse
Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura
Labridae
 Deepwater fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus) — Labridae
Deepwater fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus
Labridae
 Earle's fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus earlei) — Labridae
Earle's fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus earlei
Labridae
 Joan's fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus joanallenae) — Labridae
Joan's fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus joanallenae
Labridae
 Johnson's fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus johnsoni) — Labridae
Johnson's fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus johnsoni
Labridae
 Marjorie's fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus marjorie) — Labridae
Marjorie's fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus marjorie
Labridae

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