Onelined Wrasse

Color in life: juveniles brown with 2 bluish white stripes on body, the lateral stripe disappearing with increase in size; female yellowish brown, stripes dull and faint; male color more intensified and bright than female color, a large yellow area beneath and above the pectoral fin base. Yellow lips thick and fleshy, forming a short tube when mouth is closed. Head entirely scaled except for sheath over base of upper lip, preorbital, and chin. Lacks teeth in the upper jaw between the two anterior pairs of canines and the large canine in each corner (Ref. 1602).

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

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 10 - 11

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154).

Inhabits shallow lagoon and semi-protected seaward reefs with high coral cover (Ref. 9710). Found near branching corals and feeds on its coral polyps, particularly staghorn Acropora (Ref. 9823).

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