New Guinea Wrasse

Head spotted. Color of females black dorsally, blue spotted, becoming yellowish white on sides and white ventrally; opercle with a large black ocellus; anal fin with a broad black band. Male form blackish dorsally with light blue dots, shading gradually to light yellowish green; each body scale with vertical light blue line; upper half of head dark reddish with dark-edged blue bands radiating from eye; anal fins with several longitudinal bands on a broad orange zone; caudal fin with vertical stripes. Dorsal spines pungent.

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 11 - 13

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154).

An inshore species inhabiting shallow coral reefs (Ref. 9823), with patches of sand and rubble (Ref. 37816), also along upper part of slopes and on reef crests with Acropora corals. Adults occur in small loose groups of females with dominant male nearby. Juveniles occur solitary in corals (Ref. 48636). Feed on benthic invertebrates. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Occasionally seen in fish markets and aquarium trade.

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family