Oxycheilinus bimaculatus (Valenciennes, 1840)
Two-spot wrasse
photo by Cox, C.D.

Family:  Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Cheilininae
Max. size:  16.4 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 120 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian and Marquesan islands, north to southern Japan, south to Vanuatu.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Body variable from brown to yellow or green mixed with various color shades or spots. Males develop long filaments on the caudal fin (Ref. 48636). Young with a broad, dark lateral stripe which breaks into dark blotches in adults, the largest above distal pectoral fins. A small dark spot behind eye. Mouth terminal or lower jaw slightly projecting. Caudal fin of terminal males rhomboid, with central rays longest, and dorsalmost caudal-fin ray elongated into a short filament. A small species (reaching about 14 cm) (Ref 9823).
Biology:  Inhabits outer reef slopes or deep clear lagoons among rubble or clumps of algae; also in seagrass beds (Ref. 1602, 41878, 58302). Often in sheltered estuaries and harbors (Ref. 48636). Benthic and benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 July 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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