Animal Species:Pastel Slender Wrasse, Hologymnosus doliatus (Lacepede, 1801)

The Pastel Slender Wrasse is an elongate fish that can be recognised by its colouration. The species occurs in coral reef areas of the Indo-West Pacific.

Pastel Slender Wrasse at North West Solitary Island

Pastel Slender Wrasse at North West Solitary Island
Ian Shaw © Ian Shaw

Alternative Name/s

Narrow-banded Wrasse, Red-lined Slender Wrasse, Pastel Ringwrasse

Identification

The Pastel Slender Wrasse is an elongate fish that can be recognised by its colouration. Small juveniles are white with three orange-red stripes along the body.

Initial phase individuals, like that in the upper image, are blue, green or grey with 20-23 orange bars. They have a blue-black spot posteriorly on the operculum.

Terminal phase fish are blue-green to light red with lavender bars, and a pale region behind the pectoral fin. The head is blue to green with orange banding.

Size range

The Pastel Slender Wrasse grows to 40 cm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs throughout much of the tropical Indo-West Pacific. In Australia it is know from north-western Western Australia and from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Pastel Slender Wrasse specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The Pastel Slender Wrasse lives primarily in areas of coral reef.

Classification

Species:
doliatus
Genus:
Hologymnosus
Family:
Labridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. 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.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Pastel Slender Wrasse, Hologymnosus doliatus, Labridae,