Red-breasted wrasse explained

The red-breasted wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

Description

This species can reach a maximum of 40cm (20inches) in standard length.Its head is greenish-blue, followed by a distinctive red-orange band followed by black and white stripes. Terminal phase fishes generally have a more pronounced red band and convex forehead than initial phase and juvenile fish.

Distribution

The red-breasted wrasse is native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and the African coast to the islands of the western Pacific.

Habitat and diet

The red-breasted wrasse lives in lagoons and seaward reefs in areas mixing rubble, coral, and sand at depths of from 4to though rarer below 40m (130feet).

It feeds mainly on crustaceans, sea urchins, hard-shelled invertebrates, and mollusks.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Facts about Cheilinus fasciatus - Encyclopedia of Life . 2013-09-11 . 2013-10-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131031065400/http://eol.org/pages/223458/details#trophic_strategy . dead .