Slingjaw Wrasse

ID points

• The mouth shoots forward, almost half the body length
• Males have a white head and an orange-brown body
• Females are usually plain yellow and smaller

Basics

Family

Labridae

Length

25–35 cm

Depth

1-40 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Indo-Pacific coral reefs

Habitat

Coral-rich reef slopes

Diet

Small fish, crustaceans

Easily confused with

Moon WrasseBlue-green body, pink radiating lines on the headRockmover WrasseFine white lines radiate over the head, like cracked porcelainCleaner WrasseA black stripe runs from the snout straight through to the tail

Fun fact

It can shoot its jaws forward clear of its head, extending its reach enormously in a fraction of a second, far too fast for the eye to follow.

More in this family

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