Marine Life

Redspot wrasse

Raiy thiki hikaa

Pseudocoris yamashiroi

Pseudocoris yamashiroi is commonly found on the deeper parts of outer reef slopes, and is easily overlooked due to its small size and dull coloration. However, males from the Maldives differ from those in the Western Pacific in having orange on the posterior part of their back, rather than green.

Details

§ 01

size: Common to 15 cm; max. 18 cm
color: Females lavender-grey. The centres of scales darker than edges. Head behind the eye partially blue green. A large orange red spot covering pectoral fin base. Males light blue-green on dorsal three fifths of body, densely spotted with vertically elongated small black spots. In Maldivian specimens, posterior part of back appears orange.
order: Perciformes
family: Labridae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/pseudocoris-yamashiroi.png
habitat and biology: This species is typically found in large groups on the outer edges of coral reefs, with the female population far outnumbering the males. They feed on zooplankton.
distinctive characters: The fish has a dorsal fin with nine spines and twelve rays, an anal fin with three spines and twelve rays, and a pectoral fin with thirteen rays. Its body depth is 3.5 to 4.1 inches in standard length, and the first two dorsal spines are close together and prolonged in males. The caudal fin is slightly emarginate, the pelvic fin is short, and the preopercle has a membranous flap at the angle, with the margin above it usually finely serrate for about half its length.