Animal Species:Cocktail Wrasse, Pteragogus flagellifer (Valenciennes, 1839)

The Cocktail Wrasse is a small tropical labrid that occurs off north-western Western Australia and along most of the Queensland coast.

Identification

The Cocktail Wrasse is yellowish to brown with an indistinct pattern of spots and blotches.  Males have elongated dorsal and anal fin spines.  Juveniles have a blue blotch on the leading dorsal fin rays. Three species of Pteragogus occur in Australian waters.

Size range

12 cm

Similar Species

Cryptic Wrasse, P. cryptus, Cockerel Wrasse, P. enneacanthus

Distribution

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Pteragogus flagellifer</

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Cocktail Wrasse specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is a benthic species that lives in inshore and coral reef waters.

Classification

Species:
flagellifer
Genus:
Pteragogus
Family:
Labridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 2010. Labridae Fishes: Wrasses. Aquatic Photographics. Pp. 398.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Cocktail Wrasse, Pteragogus flagellifer, Labridae,