Thalassoma trilobatum (Lacepède 1801)

This species is distinguished by the following characters: greatest body depth 2.7-3.6 in SL; pectoral fin rays usually 16; lateral line scales 25; total gill rakers on first gill arch 17-24 (modally 20); caudal fin of initial phase slightly rounded to truncate, of terminal males truncate to slightly double emaginate; Body of initial (female) phase greenish grey to pale green with 5-6 dark saddles on back, pair of dark (sometimes diffused) stripes on side, a dark vertical line on most scales of body, and with a diagonal (or C-shaped) pink to dark red below front of eye; while body of terminal male salmon-pink to orange anteriorly, with 2 longitudinal series of vertical green rectangles, every fourth pair of upper series extending as a single green bar across back, the head orange-brown without bands and caudal fin brownish to greenish, shading distally to pink, the posterior third of rays blue (Ref. 9823, 86689, 90102).

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

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 11

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154).

Found solitary or in groups (Ref. 90102) in shallow exposed reef flats, usually with rock-base and mixed coral and algae (Ref. 48636, 58302). Also occurs in surge-swept reef flats, reef margins, and clear rocky shorelines, but may venture to deeper waters up to 10 m (Ref. 3921). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds on crustaceans (especially crabs), mollusks, and ophiuroids (brittle stars) (Ref. 3921).

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