Image Gallery: Wrasses

The wrasses are one of the more conspicuous coral reef and temperate water fish families.  They often exhibit distinctive colour changes as they mature.  The family Labridae is the second largest family of fishes in Australia.  This gallery contains only a few of more than 225 species known from Australia (680 species worldwide).

A Biocellate Wrasse at North Solitary Island A Biocellate Wrasse at North Solitary Island
An initial phase Birdnose Wrasse An initial phase Birdnose Wrasse
A terminal phase Birdnose Wrasse A terminal phase Birdnose Wrasse
Juvenile Blackmargin Maori Wrasse Juvenile Blackmargin Maori Wrasse
A Black-spotted Wrasse at Port Stephens A Black-spotted Wrasse at Port Stephens
Two juvenile Bluehead Wrasse Two juvenile Bluehead Wrasse
Bluehead Wrasse, Thalassoma amblycephalum Bluehead Wrasse, Thalassoma amblycephalum
A Bluethroat Wrasse at Rapid Bay Jetty, South Australia A Bluethroat Wrasse at Rapid Bay Jetty, South Australia
Brokenline Wrasse, Stethojulis interrupta Brokenline Wrasse, Stethojulis interrupta
Juvenile Brokenline Wrasse Juvenile Brokenline Wrasse
A Brokenline Wrasse at Port Stephens A Brokenline Wrasse at Port Stephens
Castelnau's Wrasse at Rapid Bay Jetty Castelnau's Wrasse at Rapid Bay Jetty
Castelnau's Wrasse at Rapid Bay Jetty Castelnau's Wrasse at Rapid Bay Jetty
Castelnau's Wrasse, Dotalabrus aurantiacus Castelnau's Wrasse, Dotalabrus aurantiacus
Doubleheader - initial phase Doubleheader - initial phase
Terminal phase Finespot Wrasse Terminal phase Finespot Wrasse
Initial phase Finespot Wrasse Initial phase Finespot Wrasse
A Blacktail Wrasse at North Solitary Island A Blacktail Wrasse at North Solitary Island
BrownSpotted Wrasse at Kangaroo Island BrownSpotted Wrasse at Kangaroo Island
A Checkerboard Wrasse at Cormorant Pass A Checkerboard Wrasse at Cormorant Pass