Halichoeres zeylonicus (Bennett, 1833)
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Females light bluish gray dorsally, white ventrally, with a narrow orange stripe running from the top of the snout to the upper base of the caudal fin (where it may contain a blackish spot). Males blue-green on head and anterior portions of the body with irregular pink band and spots; their orange-yellow lateral stripe blue-edged, often with narrow extensions; a blue-edged spot at the upper portion of the pectoral fin base, and two or more similar blue-edged spots just anterior of the caudal peduncle above the lateral stripe.
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Eupercaria/misc
Family: Labridae
Genus: Halichoeres
Species: Halichoeres zeylonicus (Bennett, 1833)
Climate Zone
Location
Biology
Inhabits open sand and rubble areas of seaward reefs, to depths greater than 34 m (Ref. 9710). Usually in small groups of females with single males patrolling the area (Ref. 48636).
Habitat
associated