Flasher Wrasse

ID points

• Courting males flash neon colours over the whole body in an instant
• Several dorsal fin rays drawn out into long flag-like filaments
• Swims in groups in midwater off the outer reef slope

Basics

Family

Labridae

Length

6–9 cm

Depth

5-40 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Coral reefs of the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean

Habitat

Midwater over outer reef slopes

Diet

Zooplankton

Easily confused with

Cleaner WrasseA black stripe runs from the snout straight through to the tailMoon WrasseBlue-green body, pink radiating lines on the headSix-line WrasseSix orange stripes run from head to tail on a purple ground

Fun fact

Male flasher wrasse court by flicking the dorsal fin open, raising the fin spines and blazing into a burst of red, orange, blue and purple all at once, like a flash of light, to catch the eye of a female.

More in this family

• Bird Wrasse
• Harlequin Tuskfish
• Leopard Wrasse
• Napoleon Wrasse
• Rockmover Wrasse
• Rockmover Wrasse (Juvenile)
• Slingjaw Wrasse
• Tuskfish