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Bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma amblycephalum) — Labridae

Bluehead wrasse

Thalassoma amblycephalum
Family: Labridae
LC · Least Concern

The Bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma amblycephalum) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–15.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The bluntheaded wrasse is a wrasse (Labridae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a slender body; adult males are handsomely coloured with a green head and a yellow-and-blue band, females and juveniles are duller with a dark lengthwise stripe. It occurs in schools over shallow lagoon and seaward reefs and on reef flats. It plucks zooplankton from the water column and picks small invertebrates from the reef. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bluehead wrasse?

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

Where does the Bluehead wrasse live?

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

How big does the Bluehead wrasse get?

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

Is the Bluehead wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Bluehead wrasse is harmless to humans.

Is the Bluehead wrasse edible?

The Bluehead wrasse is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Stompkop-lipvis sourced
English name
Bluehead wrasse verified
Scientific name
Thalassoma amblycephalum
Family
Labridae
Other names
Bluehead wrasse; Bluntheaded wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) 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)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups 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 Thalassoma

More from the family Labridae

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