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Timor wrasse (Halichoeres timorensis) — Labridae

Timor wrasse

Halichoeres timorensis
Family: Labridae
LC · Least Concern

The Timor wrasse (Halichoeres timorensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–15.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The Timor wrasse is a small wrasse from the Indo-West Pacific, including around the Indo-Australian Archipelago. The species grows to about 12 cm and has an elongate body with greenish and reddish-brown tones and fine lines over the head. It lives on shallow coastal and reef bottoms and hunts small benthic invertebrates. Like other wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite that buries in the sand at night. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Timor wrasse?

The Timor wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly green and shows a plain pattern. Buries itself in the sand at night; protogynous hermaphrodite

Where does the Timor wrasse live?

The Timor wrasse lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Timor wrasse get?

The Timor wrasse grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Timor wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Timor 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.

Is the Timor wrasse edible?

The Timor wrasse is not usually eaten.

More photos

Timor wrasse (Halichoeres timorensis) — Labridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Timor wrasse (Halichoeres timorensis) — Labridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Timor wrasse (Halichoeres timorensis) — Labridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) barthazes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Timor wrasse (Halichoeres timorensis) — Labridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Thomas Menut, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Timor wrasse verified
Scientific name
Halichoeres timorensis
Family
Labridae
Other names
Timor wrasse; Wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small bottom-dwelling invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced
Seasonality
Sand-dwelling wrasse; protogynous hermaphrodite. sourced
Special features
Buries itself in the sand at night; protogynous hermaphrodite 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
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 Halichoeres

More from the family Labridae

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