Epibulus insidiator is a common inhabitant of the Maldivian reefs, and it can be seen in two distinct color forms.
Details
§ 01
size
Max. 35 cm
color
Usual colour dark brown, occasionally yellow. Lower head and thorax abruptly pale grey. A large diffuse orangish area on nape and adjacent upper part of the body. Juveniles brown with 3 narrow white bars on body and white lines radiating from eye.
This species is typically found in shallow coral reefs at depths of 5 or 6 m, and it tends to be solitary in nature. Its diet consists mainly of small fishes, crabs and shrimps, which it captures by quickly protruding its jaws.
distinctive characters
This species has a dorsal fin with nine spines and ten rays, an anal fin with three spines and eight to nine rays, a pectoral fin with twelve rays, a body depth of two to two-point-three times its standard length, jaws that are extremely protractile, long pelvic fins in adults, a smooth preopercular margin, and males with prolonged lobes on their caudal fin.