Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Labridae (Wrasses) > Corinae
Etymology: Halichoeres: Greek, als, alis = salt + Greek, choiros = pig (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 18 - 91 m (Ref. 7251), usually 30 - ? m (Ref. 52607). Tropical, preferred ?; 30°N - 33°S, 98°W - 32°W
Western Atlantic: Florida, USA and Antilles to Brazil.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 9;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 12;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 12. Juveniles and females yellow with broad blue stripe from eye to center of caudal fin. The only Halichoeres species in Caribbean region with 12 dorsal rays, all other have 11 (Ref. 26938). Adults with a broad black stripe on upper half of body; narrowing as it passes posteriorly to end in middle of caudal fin; lower half of body light blue-green; head below level of mouth blue-green, above yellow (Ref. 13442).
Found over hard substrates (Ref. 9626). Juveniles up to 8 cm act as specialized cleaners. Each individual tends a defined cleaning station sought by several species of reef fishes including damselfishes, goatfishes, and surgeonfishes. At the cleaning station this wrasse swims in a characteristic seesaw motion (Ref. 31373). Occasionally caught by anglers. Generally of no interest to fisheries because of its small average size (Ref. 5217). Found at 9 m in Belize (Ref. 26938).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
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
Harmless
Human uses
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 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00469 - 0.02134), b=3.08 (2.91 - 3.25), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.54 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (35 of 100) .
