Leopard Wrasse

ID points

• Females white with dense blackish green leopard spots
• Males switch to a green ground with an orange line network
• Burrows into the sand to sleep at night

Basics

Family

Labridae

Length

10–15 cm

Depth

3-30 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Coral reefs and mixed reef and sand areas from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific

Habitat

Mixed reef and sand bottoms

Diet

Small invertebrates

Easily confused with

Rockmover Wrasse (Juvenile)Juveniles have two fin rays on top of the head drawn out like antennaeCleaner WrasseA black stripe runs from the snout straight through to the tailFlasher WrasseCourting males flash neon colours over the whole body in an instant

Fun fact

The leopard wrasse is covered in leopard like spotting across its body, and it has an unusual sleeping habit: at night it burrows its whole body down into the sand to hide from predators.

More in this family

• Bird Wrasse
• Harlequin Tuskfish
• Moon Wrasse
• Napoleon Wrasse
• Rockmover Wrasse
• Six-line Wrasse
• Slingjaw Wrasse
• Tuskfish