Bird Wrasse

ID points

• Extremely long snout, curved like the beak of a bird
• Males dark green, females white in front and black behind
• Swims entirely by rapidly fanning its pectoral fins

Basics

Family

Labridae

Length

20–30 cm

Depth

1-30 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Indo-Pacific coral reefs

Habitat

Shallow coral reefs

Diet

Small crustaceans

Easily confused with

Moon WrasseBlue-green body, pink radiating lines on the headNapoleon WrasseAdults have a large bulging hump on the foreheadCleaner WrasseA black stripe runs from the snout straight through to the tail

Fun fact

A long, slender beak-like snout lets it pick small invertebrates out of cracks in the reef with real precision and force.

More in this family

• Flasher Wrasse
• Harlequin Tuskfish
• Leopard Wrasse
• Rockmover Wrasse
• Rockmover Wrasse (Juvenile)
• Six-line Wrasse
• Slingjaw Wrasse
• Tuskfish