Harlequin Tuskfish

Choerodon faciatus has some anti-predator adaptations. It is very brightly colored which is a warning to potential predators that its flesh could taste bad, be poisonous, or inedible (Melbourne Aquarium). Also, when feeling threatened the teeth of C. fasciatus will turn from blue to pink to warn other fish (Melbourne Aquarium).

Anti-predator Adaptations: aposematic

Choerodon fasciatus was first described by Günther in 1867. It was oringinally called Xiphocheilus fasciatus. The citation for this is: Xiphocheilus fasciatus Günther, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1867, p. 101.

Choerodon fasciatus like all other fishes uses the lateral line system to detect water movement (Tiscali, 2004). Choerodon fasciatus does have eyes so probably uses its eyesight to find food.

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; chemical

Choerodon fasciatus was not found on the IUCN Red List website, US Federal List website, or CITES website.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Being part of the wrasse family, all Choreodon fasciatus hatch as females. As they become adults, loose social groups form. Within each social group, the most dominant female undergoes physiological changes to become a male. Each group consists of one male and multiple females. When the males dies or leaves the second most dominant female becomes the male. (Melbourne Aquarium)

It is not known if Choerodon fasciatus has any sort of negative impact on humans.

This species is found in the aquarium trade (Fenner).

Positive Impacts: pet trade

Choerodon fasciatus is a carnivore and may affect the populations of its prey, which include mollusks, marine worms, crustaceans and other fish found in its environment (Randall, et al, 1990).

Choerodon fasciatus is a carnivore. It feeds aquatic worms, crustaceans, echinoderms, and mollusks (Randall,et al, 1990).

Animal Foods: fish; mollusks; aquatic or marine worms; aquatic crustaceans; echinoderms

Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats non-insect arthropods, Molluscivore , Vermivore)

Choerodon fasciatus, which is commonly called harlequin tuskfish, is found throughout the Indo-Pacific (Fenner). Specimens have been collected from Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Japan, New Hebrides and Taiwan (Fenner). In Australia they are found in the Great Barrier Reef from Queensland to New South Wales (the north east coast) (Australian Museum Online, 2003).

Biogeographic Regions: indian ocean (Native ); pacific ocean (Native )

Choerodon fasciatus lives in lagoons that are located on the outer edges of reef areas (Melbourne Aquarium). The water temperature is about 25-28 degrees Celsius (Randall, et al, 1990). Adults will usually live together in small loose groups in caves or by reef slopes (Melbourne Aquarium). Juveniles tend to isolate themselves and will live by reef walls that drop off to channels (Melbourne Aquarium).

Range depth: 5 to 35 m.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; saltwater or marine

Aquatic Biomes: reef ; coastal

Other Habitat Features: caves

The lifespan of this species is unknown.

The head and body of adult Choerodon fasciatus has blue lined orange/red stripes (Melbourne Aquarium). The caudal fins are yellow (Marshall). As it ages the back half of the body darkens to a dark blue/purple color (Melbourne Aquarium). The juveniles have ocelli, which are eye-like spots on the anal and dorsal fins (Australian Museum Online, 2003). These spots go away with age (Australian Museum Online, 2003). The body of a juvenile C. fasciatus also has brown banding (Australian Museum Online, 2003). A mouth full of big blue teeth is a very distinctive feature of this species (Melbourne Aquarium).

Range length: 30 (high) cm.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Like other wrasses, the mating group of Choerodon fasciatus consists of one male with multiple females (Melbourne Aquarium).

Mating System: polygynous

The general reproductive behavior of this species is not known.

The parental investment of this species is unknown.

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

Body with 7 or 8 pairs of alternating prominent red, blue, white and blackish bands. Pectoral fins with ii unbranched and 14 branched rays. Predorsal scales approximately 10 to 14, reaching forward in advance of posterior extent of orbit on dorsal midline of head. (Ref 9823)

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 10

Inhabits seaward reefs. Feeds on molluscs, crustaceans, various worms, and echinoderms.

Adults inhabit seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Feed on mollusks, crustaceans, various worms, and echinoderms. Solitary and territorial species (Ref. 9710). Monogamous (Ref. 52884). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Maximum depth reported from Ref. 27115.

fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

分布於西太平洋區，為反赤道分布之魚種，包括日本至台灣，及澳洲至新加勒多尼亞海域等。台灣分布於西南部、南部、澎湖、綠島及蘭嶼等。

中大型之隆頭魚，體色鮮艷，常被當作觀賞魚，亦可食用，以延繩釣、一支釣較容易上鉤。

體長卵型，前部輪廓陡峭。吻略尖；上頜犬齒 6枚，下頜犬齒 4枚，向後外方伸出彎曲。眼眶間隔稍突。眼眶間隔、吻與下頜裸露；頰部、鰓蓋及背鰭、臀鰭基部被鱗；側線連續。D. XII,7-8；A. III,10；P. 14-15；L.l. 28-29；G.R.6+11；胸鰭扇狀；腹鰭稍尖；尾鰭截形。體背面黃綠色，腹面較淡；頭與體共具 8對由鮮紅與白色、藍色或黑色交錯之垂直帶。背鰭紅色，基部較淡，硬棘前端暗色；胸鰭黃色，基部紅色；腹鰭紅色，棘部與鰭緣淡藍色；臀鰭黑紅色，邊緣具淡藍紋；尾鰭白色，末緣紅色。幼魚之背、臀鰭末端都具一眼斑。

主要棲息於珊瑚礁區，水深約5-35公尺。獨居且領域性高；以具外殼的軟體動物、甲殼類與棘皮類動物等為食，偶爾也捕食蠕虫。

The harlequin tuskfish, Choerodon fasciatus, is a species of wrasse native to the western Pacific Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.