Despite its large size, Cheilinus undulatus, the largest of the family Labridae, is a wary fish and is protected in the Maldives.
Details
§ 01
size
Max. 2.3 m
color
Body olive to blue-green with vertical dark lines on scales. Irregular lines on head and two black lines extending back from eye. Juveniles pale greenish with elongate dark spots on scales of body tending to form bars; two black lines posteriorly from eye.
This species is typically found in the deeper parts of coral reefs, reaching depths of up to 60 meters. It is a solitary creature that primarily feeds on hard-shelled prey such as mollusks, crustaceans, and sea urchins.
distinctive characters
This species has a dorsal fin with nine spines and ten rays, an anal fin with three spines and eight rays, and a pectoral fin with twelve rays. Its body depth is 2.3-2.7 in standard length, and it is moderately deep. The dorsal profile of the head is straight to the eye, then becoming convex. Adults develop a large, fleshy hump on their forehead, and the lateral line is interrupted below the posterior portion of the dorsal fin base. The caudal fin is rounded.