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Green razorfish (Xyrichtys splendens) — Labridae

Green razorfish

Xyrichtys splendens
Family: Labridae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Green razorfish (Xyrichtys splendens) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 18 cm.

Length
17.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–15.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The green razorfish is a wrasse from the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species grows to about 18 cm and has a strongly laterally compressed, knife-like body with a steep, sharp head and a greenish to red-brown colour. When threatened it dives head-first into the sand in a flash to disappear. As a dweller of seagrass and sand flats it searches for small crustaceans and molluscs. Like many wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Green razorfish?

The Green razorfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly green and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Green razorfish live?

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

How big does the Green razorfish get?

The Green razorfish grows to a maximum of about 18 cm.

Is the Green razorfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Green razorfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Green razorfish edible?

The Green razorfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Groene mesvis verified
English name
Green razorfish verified
Scientific name
Xyrichtys splendens
Family
Labridae
Other names
Green Razorfish; Green razorfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
17.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Green inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded 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
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
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
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 Xyrichtys

More from the family Labridae

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