Pink Belly Wrasse

Females olivaceous on back, the scale edges dark brown, pale ventrally, with whitish blotches of unequal size and a large pink area posteriorly on the abdomen; a black spot on opercular flap, small one behind eye, one at front of dorsal fin and a large one rimmed in yellow or blue in middle of fin; no black spot at upper base of pectoral fins; males green with orange-red spots, some linked to form irregular markings, the white blotches and large pink area on abdomen lost, and the black spots lost or reduced. Males are distinguished by different cheek patterns. In this species, it has a near horizontal pink band below the eye (Ref. 48636).

Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

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

Inhabits shallow reefs and rocky shores, usually in weedy areas exposed to surge. Feeds on benthic crustaceans, molluscs, polychaetes, forams, fishes, and fish eggs.

Inhabits shallow reefs and rocky shores, usually in weedy areas exposed to surge (Ref. 9710, 48636). Feeds on benthic crustaceans, mollusks, polychaetes, forams, fishes, and fish eggs (Ref. 1602). One of several similar species that have near identical juvenile and female stages (Ref. 48636).

aquarium: commercial

分布於印度-太平洋區，由 Cocos-Keeling 群島到萊恩及土木土群島，北至日本琉球，南至澳洲等。台灣除西部外，各地岩礁岩海域皆有分布。

小型之隆頭魚，體色鮮豔，是較適合水族觀賞的魚類。其有斑駁的保護色，亦常會鑽入砂中，所以潛水在美麗而隱密的珊瑚礁海域，並不易看見。可食用，但個體小，較無食用價值。

體延長，側扁。吻較長，尖突。前鼻孔具短管。口小；上頜有犬齒四枚，外側兩枚向後方彎曲。前鰓蓋後緣具鋸齒；鰓蓋膜常與峽部相連。體被中大圓鱗，胸部鱗片小於體側，頰部無鱗；背鰭與臀鰭無鞘鱗；側線完全，在尾柄前方急劇向下降。D. IX, 11；A. III, 11；P. 13；L.l. 27；G.R. 17-21。雌魚體上半部橄欖綠色，鱗片具黑緣，腹部色淡，具大小不一的白斑，腹部後緣具一大的粉紅斑，鰓蓋膜具一黑斑，眼後另具一小黑斑，前方背鰭具一小黑點，背鰭中央具一鑲黃邊的黑斑，胸鰭基無黑點；雄魚綠色具紅褐色點，色點偶而相連形成橫帶，腹部粉紅色斑消失，頭部及鰓蓋膜的黑點消失或縮小，頭部綠色，眼前具二條平形的紅縱紋，延伸至吻端，眼後具二條放射狀的紅紋，眼下方具一水平的長紅紋，鰓蓋後下緣至峽部淡粉紅色，背鰭紅色具排列不規則的綠斑點，背鰭中央亦具一黑斑，臀鰭紅色，中央具一縱列的綠斑。

主要棲息於淺水區域的珊瑚礁及岩岸地帶。主要以底棲性甲殼類、軟體動物、多毛類、有孔類、小魚及魚卵等為食。具性轉變的行為，是屬於先雌後雄型的型態。