Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Labridae (Wrasses) > Julidinae
Etymology: Stethojulis: Greek, stetho, stethion = brest; literal = to prick a little breast + Greek, ioulis, a fish dealing with genera Coris or Thalassoma (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Bleeker.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 18 m (Ref. 90102). Tropical; 35°N - 33°S, 32°E - 168°E
Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf (Ref.80050); Red Sea and East Africa to Papua New Guinea, south to Lord Howe Island. Unknown from Micronesia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.6 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26587)
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. True form has interrupted mid-lateral stripe. Female with yellow stripe from the tip of snout to just past axil, running below eye where pale silvery-blue; male with continuous mid-lateral line and dark 'ear' (Ref. 48636).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Coastal to outer reef crests. In Japan, it is found in areas of mixed sand, rock and coral (Ref. 9710). Occurs in small groups to about 20 m depth (Ref. 48636). Feeds by sorting small animals from mouthfuls of sand and detritus.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Randall, J.E., 2000. Revision of the Indo-Pacific labrid fishes of the genus Stethojulis, with descriptions of two new species. Indo-Pac. Fish. (31):42 p. (Ref. 36378)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
