Novaculichthys taeniourus
Carpet wrasse | Bar-cheeked Wrasse | Clown Wrasse | Dragon Wrasse | Masked Wrasse | Olive-scribbled Wrasse | Reindeer Wrasse | Rockmover Wrasse | Tahiti Sand Wrasse
Distribution
Tropical Eastern Pacific, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Adults grey with white spot or vertical streak on each scale, light grey head with or with out dark lines radiating from a red eye, projecting canine teeth, light bar at base of tail fin, yellow spot on pectoral base often present, red chest in some individuals and two black spots at front of dorsal fin. Juveniles variable in colour with two long banner-like dorsal spines, rows of large white spots on side, dark rays on translucent fins, swim with tumbling, drifting motion, mimicking leaves or pieces of weed. Adults can move surprisingly large rocks in search of prey.
Information
Max Size: 30 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 23.5-31.2°C
Depth: 3-25 m
Habitat Generalization Index: 7.43
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Occurrence: Infrequent (7.6% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Andrew Green