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Oxycheilinus arenatus (Valenciennes, 1840) Speckled maori wrasse |
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photo by
Randall, J.E. |
| Family: | Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Cheilininae | |||
| Max. size: | 21 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 11 - 90 m | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Marshall Islands and Samoa. Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique (Ref. 41878). | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-11. Recognized by the thin mid-lateral stripe and elongated blotch at front of dorsal fin between 1st and 3rd spines (Ref. 48636). Body covered with relatively large scales; large canine teeth in the front of jaws. | |||
| Biology: | Found solitary (Ref. 90102) in caves of steep outer reef drop-offs from 25 to at least 46 m (Ref. 1602) with rich invertebrate growth such as large gorgonians or soft corals (Ref. 48636). Feeds mainly on fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans (Ref. 9823). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 March 2009 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||
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