Harlequin Wrasse

Body moderately deep and compressed; head large and pointed; teeth elongate and compressed, resembling incisors; dorsal fin contiguous, with 12 spines; posterior rays of dorsal and anal fins forming filamentous lobes; lower branch of first gill arch with 9 to 10 gill rakers; variable, depending on size and sex; body brown, black, red or orange, but less than 5 percent of the population is entirely black (Ref. 55763).

Pelagic spawner (Ref. 32168). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Also Ref. 103751.

A sequentially protogynous hermaphrodite. In the Galapagos, the colorful appearance may be due to selective pressures and their increased feeding and decreased reproductive activities may serve to avoid extraordinary predation (Ref. 9227). Adults forage on a wide range of invertebrates and algae (Ref. 28023). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial