Animal Species:Pastel-green Wrasse, Halichoeres chloropterus (Bloch, 1791)

The Pastel-green Wrasse can be recognised by its colouration. The species, which grows to about 19 cm in length occurs in the tropical Western Pacific.

Pastel-green Wrasse, Halichoeres chloropterus

Pastel-green Wrasse, Halichoeres chloropterus
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

The Pastel-green Wrasse has also been called the Black-blotched Rainbowfish, Dark-blotch Wrasse and Green-spotted Wrasse.

Identification

The Pastel-green Wrasse can be recognised by its colouration. Females are pale green above and white below. They have small dark spots on the sides of the body, a thin dark line on the pectoral fin base and thin dark lines on the abdomen. A dark smudge may be present on the side of the body.

Males are greenish with pink spots on the side of the body that form a network of lines anteriorly. The head has irregular bands of pink and green.

Size range

The species grows to about 19 cm in length.

Distribution

The Pastel-green Wrasse occurs in the tropical Western Pacific.

In Australia it is known from northern Queensland.

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.

Halichoeres chloropterus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Pastel-green Wrasse specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It occurs on coral reefs and inshore waters.

Classification

Species:
chloropterus
Genus:
Halichoeres
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. 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-green Wrasse, Halichoeres chloropterus, Labridae, green, pink, 10 cm - 30 cm, marine,