Home · Labridae · Cupid wrasse
Cupid wrasse (Thalassoma cupido) — Labridae

Cupid wrasse

Thalassoma cupido
Family: Labridae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Cupid wrasse (Thalassoma cupido) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The cupid wrasse is a colourful wrasse from the northwest Pacific, around Japan and Taiwan. The species grows to about 20 cm and has a greenish to bluish body with red and pink bands and stripes on the head. As a reef-dweller it searches over rock and coral bottoms for small crustaceans, molluscs and worms. Like many wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite: fish begin as females and can later become males. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cupid wrasse?

The Cupid wrasse has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly green and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Cupid wrasse live?

The Cupid wrasse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Cupid wrasse get?

The Cupid wrasse grows to a maximum of about 20 cm. On average the species is around 14 cm.

Is the Cupid wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Cupid wrasse is harmless to humans.

Is the Cupid wrasse edible?

The Cupid wrasse is not usually eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Cupido-lipvis verified
English name
Cupid wrasse verified
Scientific name
Thalassoma cupido
Family
Labridae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Average length (cm)
14.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Green inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →