Oxycheilinus arenatus (Valenciennes, 1840)
Speckled maori wrasse
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Cheilininae
Max. size:  21 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 11 - 90 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Marshall Islands and Samoa. Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique (Ref. 41878).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-11. Recognized by the thin mid-lateral stripe and elongated blotch at front of dorsal fin between 1st and 3rd spines (Ref. 48636). Body covered with relatively large scales; large canine teeth in the front of jaws.
Biology:  Found solitary (Ref. 90102) in caves of steep outer reef drop-offs from 25 to at least 46 m (Ref. 1602) with rich invertebrate growth such as large gorgonians or soft corals (Ref. 48636). Feeds mainly on fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans (Ref. 9823).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 March 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.