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New Guinea wrasse

Anampses neoguinaicus

New Guinea wrasse
Illustration by Into the Blue

About

An inshore species inhabiting shallow coral reefs , with patches of sand and rubble , 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.

Also known as: black-backed wrasse, new guinea chisel-tooth wrasse, new guinea tamarin, new guinea wrasse, blackback wrasse, new guinea tamarin, new guinea chisel-tooth wrasse, new guinea wrasse, black-back wrasse, blackback wrasse

Length
20 cm
Depth
up to 30 m

Appearance

Look for 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.

Habitat

An inshore species inhabiting shallow coral reefs , with patches of sand and rubble , also along upper part of slopes and on reef crests with Acropora corals.

Behaviour

Juveniles occur solitary in corals .

Diet

Feed on benthic invertebrates.

Did you know?

Many wrasses change color, behavior, or even sex as they grow.

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