Purple Wrasse, Notolabrus fucicola (Richardson, 1840)

Scientific name: Notolabrus fucicola
Alternative name/s:
Banded Parrotfish, Blue Wrasse, Kelpie, Parrotfish, Purple Parrotfish, Saddled Wrasse, Southern Wrasse, Winter Bream, Yellow-saddled Wrasse
Purple Wrasse, Notolabrus fucicola Click to enlarge image
A Purple Wrasse, Notolabrus fucicola, at a depth of 3m, Parsley Bay, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, 8 October 2016. This fish is the first Australian Museum record of the species from Sydney Harbour. Thank you to Derrick Cruz for bringing it to our attention. Image: Evan Leeson
© Evan Leeson

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Notolabrus
    Species
    fucicola
    Family
    Labridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 45 cm in length.
Purple Wrasse at Montague Island
A Purple Wrasse, Notolabrus fucicola, at a depth of 37 m, Montague Island, New South Wales, 30 September 2002. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Introduction

The Purple Wrasse is greenish-blue, brown or purplish, usually with yellow blotches. It occurs on rocky reefs in temperate coastal waters.

Identification

The Purple Wrasse is greenish-blue, brown or purplish with five yellow to white blotches along the upper sides.

Purple Wrasse
A Purple Wrasse at the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory, 6 July 2012. Image: Andrew King
© Andrew King

Habitat

It is seen usually need on rocky reefs.

Distribution

It occurs in temperate coastal waters of Australia and New Zealand. In Australia it is known from southern New South Wales and around the south of the country to eastern South Australia.

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.

References

  1. Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
  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. Russell, B.C & M.F. Gomon. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.