Description

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 25. Stripes on male body blue-green and orangish in life, becoming salmon pink and green anteriorly; a dark spot behind eye contained within a brown band that bifurcates posteriorly. Females with a small black spot on 1st interspinous membrane of dorsal fin, another between 2nd-3rd soft rays; a spot at the upper base of caudal fin. Anterior lateral line scales with 1-4 pores (usually 2). Pelvic fins of males reaching to or beyond the anus.

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Eupercaria/misc

Family: Labridae

Genus: Halichoeres

Species: Halichoeres melanurus (Bleeker, 1851)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Found mostly on shallow coral reefs and rocky shores (Ref. 9823). Found solitary or in small groups on sheltered reefs over 15 m depth (Ref. 90102). Feed on small invertebrates such as polychaetes, copepods, isopods and forams (Ref. 1602).

Habitat

associated