Description

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Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12. The primary phase of this species closely resembles that of A. meleagrides, but never has a uniformly yellow tail, and the color pattern does not change much with growth or sex (Ref. 1602). Recognized by the yellow bar on the base of the tail (Ref. 48636).

Common Names

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Blacktail wrasse , English , Australia

Blacktail wrasse , English , Malaysia

Blacktail wrasse , English , Hawaii

New Guinea wrasse , English , Australia

White-spotted wrasse , English , Australia

White-spotted wrasse , English , Indonesia

White-spotted wrasse , English , Malaysia

White-spotted wrasse , English , Micronesia

Labe , Fijian , Fiji

Kurofuchi-susukibera , Japanese , Japan

Bayan , Malay , Malaysia

Nuri bintik putih , Malay , Malaysia

乌尾阿南鱼 , Mandarin Chinese , China

尾斑阿南魚 , Mandarin Chinese , China

尾斑阿南鱼 , Mandarin Chinese , China

烏尾阿南魚 , Mandarin Chinese , Taiwan/Ch Taipei

Sugale , Samoan , Samoa

Taxonomic Hierarchy

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Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Eupercaria/misc

Family: Labridae

Genus: Anampses

Species: Anampses melanurus Bleeker, 1857

Climate Zone

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Tropical

Location

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Pacific Ocean: Indonesia to the Marquesas and Society Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Scott Reef. Range extends to Easter Island (Ref. 9710). Closely related to Anampses lineatus from the western Indian Ocean.

Biology

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Adults occur in seaward reefs (Ref. 1602). Also in deep coastal to outer reef slopes and drop-offs (Ref. 48636). Solitary or in pairs in the surge zone, rarely to 30 m (Ref. 9710). They swim in small groups, each with several females and a single dominant male (Ref. 48636). Feed on small crustaceans, mollusks and polychaetes. Bury in sand at night (Ref. 9710). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Habitat

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associated