Rockmover Wrasse
Rockmover Wrasse
Novaculichthys taeniourus
CommonLabridaeHarmless
ID points
- Fine white lines radiate over the head, like cracked porcelain
- Constantly flips over rubble to find food
- A clear white band at the base of the tail fin
Basics
- Family
- Labridae
- Length
- 20–30 cm
- Depth
- 1-20 m
- Regions
- Indo-Pacific reefs
- Distribution
- Coral reefs from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific
- Habitat
- Rubble and sand patches on coral reefs
- Diet
- Crustaceans, molluscs
Easily confused with
Rockmover Wrasse (Juvenile)Juveniles have two fin rays on top of the head drawn out like antennae
Moon WrasseBlue-green body, pink radiating lines on the head
Slingjaw WrasseThe mouth shoots forward, almost half the body lengthFun fact
The rockmover wrasse is named for the way it feeds: it takes stones, coral rubble or shells in its mouth and flips or drags them aside to find the shrimp, crabs and bristle worms hiding underneath. Adults are green with dark markings, while juveniles mimic a dead leaf or a scrap of debris drifting in the current to avoid predators.
More in this family
- Bird Wrasse
- Cleaner Wrasse
- Flasher Wrasse
- Harlequin Tuskfish
- Leopard Wrasse
- Napoleon Wrasse
- Six-line Wrasse
- Tuskfish