Thalassoma bifasciatum (Bloch, 1791)

Bluehead

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Perciformes \| Labridae \| Corinae
Synonyms	Labrus bifasciatus, Julis nitida, Thalassoma nitida, ... more
Common names	Parrotfish, Blue mah, Bluehead wrasse, ... more

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Image of Thalassoma bifasciatum (Bluehead)

Picture by Cherson, A.

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This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.

AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray. 1986. (Ref. 7251)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Westneat, Mark | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26340); max. reported age: 3 years (Ref. 3420)

Environment

Reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 40 m (Ref. 9710), usually 3 - 30 m (Ref. 27115)

Climate / Range

Tropical; 23°C - 26°C (Ref. 27115); 32°N -

Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Florida (USA), southeastern Gulf of Mexico and throughout the Caribbean Sea to northern South America.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11. Body elongate; 3 primary color phases, the smallest with a black mid-lateral stripe which continues as pale red blotches on head; back above stripe yellow on reef fish and whitish on fish from inshore non-reef areas, and body below white. The largest phase, has a bright blue head and a green body with two broad vertical black bars anteriorly which are separated by a light blue interspace; this phase is always male. The small yellow phase with the black stripe may be either male or female (Ref. 13442).

Inhabits reef areas, inshore bays and seagrass beds. Feeds mainly on zooplankton and small benthic animals, but may also feed on ectoparasites of other fishes (Ref. 9626). Spawn at midday throughout the year (Ref. 26938). A protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 55367). Generally of no interest to fisheries because of its small average size (Ref. 5217).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Not Evaluated	Harmless

Human uses
Aquarium: commercial


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (k=0.7; tmax=3)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Low vulnerability (20 of 100)	Very high

Entered by Froese, Rainer

Modified by Luna, Susan M.

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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