Russell'S Wrasse

Head with one lavender-pink band extending downward from the corner of the opercle onto preopercle. The iris is yellow, and ringed with blue. Five predorsal scales; two cheek scale rows behind eye, three below eye. Scales large. Bases of dorsal and anal fins with a low scaly sheath.

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

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 10; Vertebrae: 25