Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Labridae (Wrasses)
Etymology: Lachnolaimus: Greek, lachne, -es = more covered with hair than other + Greek, laimos = throat (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 30 m (Ref. 9710). Subtropical, preferred ?; 46°N - 4°N, 98°W - 51°W
Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia (Canada), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to northern South America.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 18.1 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 91.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251); common length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3726); max. published weight: 11.0 kg (Ref. 36052); max. reported age: 23 years (Ref. 93706)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 14;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 11;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 10. Deep-bodied wrasse with a strongly arched dorsal profile. First 3 dorsal spines filamentous. Only wrasse with elongate dorsal spines and such a highly arched profile (Ref. 26938). Color variable but generally mottled brownish red with a black spot at rear base of dorsal fin (Ref. 13442).
A large and economically valuable species, monandric and a protogynous hermaphrodite (Ref. 93709). Adults are found over open bottoms or coral reef areas (Ref. 5217). Often encountered where gorgonians are abundant (Ref. 13442). Feed mainly on mollusks, also crabs and sea urchins (Ref. 3726). Flesh highly esteemed; marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 3726). Have been reared in captivity (Ref. 35420).
Monandric (no primary males) , protogynous hermaphrodites. Sex change is postmaturation; it is initiated among individuals 30-40 cm LF (or 3-5 yrs) but was also observed in fish as large as 69.4 cm LF (13 yrs). Sex change occurred after one more spawning (as a female) seasons and requires several months to complete (Ref.74380). Harem spawner (Ref.74381). Spawning activity is characterised by the following event called 'spawning rush': 1) pectoral swim up, 2) tail swim, 3) swin alongsode and tilt, 4) release, 5) circle and display, and 6) swim down (Ref. 74381).
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray, 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p. (Ref. 7251)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 7251)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02239 (0.01369 - 0.03661), b=2.95 (2.80 - 3.10), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 4.2 ±0.0 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.09; Fec=100,000; tm=1.1).
Prior r = 0.37, 2 SD range = 0.17 - 0.78, log(r) = -0.99, SD log(r) = 0.37, Based on: 3 K, 4 tgen, 1 tmax, 6 Fec records
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High to very high vulnerability (67 of 100) .
