Bodianus bilunulatus (Lacepède, 1801)
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12. Young easily identified by the unusual coloration. Adults normally have an oval shaped black saddle near the tail, but it may become indistinct in large males (Ref. 48636).
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Eupercaria/misc
Family: Labridae
Genus: Bodianus
Species: Bodianus bilunulatus (Lacepède, 1801)
Climate Zone
Location
- Indo-West Pacific: east coast of Africa to Japan, the Philippines and New Caledonia.
Biology
Adults occur on deep reef slopes rich with invertebrates such as sponges and seawhips, but young adults are occasionally seen much shallower (Ref. 48636). Usually solitary in coral and rocky reefs. Feed mainly on benthic, hard-shelled, invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans. Protogynous (Ref. 55080). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Habitat
associated
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Threat to Humans
Harmless
Bodianus bilunulatus (Lacepède, 1801)