Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Labridae (Wrasses) > Cheilininae
Eponymy: Frank ‘Alexander’ Wetmore (1886–1978) was an American ornithologist and avian palaeontologist who conducted extensive fieldwork in Latin America. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Seale.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 36 m (Ref. 89972). Tropical; 30°N - 25°S
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to the Marquesan and Pitcairn islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 23. Fresh specimens grayish brown to reddish brown, sometimes with dark narrow edges on scales on mid side of body. Light yellow bar on head behind and adjacent to eye; another on caudal peduncle; iris red and yellow. Juveniles (up to about 3.8 cm SL) have 2 broad pale bars on body. Spinous portions of dorsal and anal fins deeply incised. One predorsal bone.
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs, in caves and crevices (Ref. 9710). A secretive species. Feeds on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 9823). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Randall, J.E., 1983. Revision of the Indo-Pacific labrid fish genus Wetmorella. Copeia 1983(4):875-883. (Ref. 2138)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
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