Home · Labridae · Blue wrasse
Blue wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) — Labridae

Blue wrasse

Thalassoma lunare
Family: Labridae
LC · Least Concern

The Blue wrasse (Thalassoma lunare) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The moon wrasse is a colourful wrasse (family Labridae) of the Indo-Pacific. The species reaches about 45 cm and has a streamlined, blue-green body with pink to purple fin patterns and a yellow, crescent-shaped tail. It occurs solitary or in groups in the upper parts of lagoon and coastal reefs and on protected seaward reefs, and sometimes enters estuaries. Its diet consists of small crustaceans, molluscs and fish eggs. Like many wrasses the species is a protogynous hermaphrodite that begins as a female and may later change into a male. It is of modest commercial value and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blue wrasse?

The Blue wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Blue wrasse live?

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

How big does the Blue wrasse get?

The Blue wrasse grows to a maximum of about 45 cm.

Is the Blue wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Blue wrasse is harmless to humans.

Is the Blue wrasse edible?

The Blue wrasse is rarely 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
Maanlipvis sourced
English name
Blue wrasse verified
Scientific name
Thalassoma lunare
Family
Labridae
Other names
Crescent wrasse; Crescent Wrasse; Lyretail wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Marbled 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)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

Download Fin's Fish Guide

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

Get the beta →