Hemigymnus melapterus, similar to H. fasciatus, feeds on invertebrates which it sorts out from mouthfuls of sand and is commonly found in a wide range of Maldivian reefs.
Details
§ 01
size
Max. 50 cm
color
Head and anterior body light grey. The upper half of head with irregular, blue edged pink bands. Most of body dark purplish, the edges of scales black with a curved vertical pale blue lines or spots on each scale. Median fins dark purplish with fine blue markings. Juveniles with white bands preceding black posterior half and with yellow caudal fin.
It was discovered that there is a greater abundance of organisms in sheltered reefs than in exposed reefs, up to a depth of 20 meters. This species mainly feeds on small crustaceans, mollusks, and echinoderms.
distinctive characters
This fish has a dorsal fin with nine spines and eleven rays, an anal fin with three spines and eleven rays, a pectoral fin with fourteen rays, and a total of 26 to 29 gill rakers. Its body depth is 2.4 to 2.7 times its standard length, and its lips are very thick and fleshy, with the lower lip deeply incised in the median line. Its caudal fin is slightly rounded.