Halichoeres melanochir

Labridae
Orangefin Wrasse, Black Wrasse, Purple Wrasse
  • Halichoeres melanochir, Ningaloo Reef, WA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Halichoeres melanochir, Ningaloo Reef, WA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Halichoeres melanochir, Juvenile, Ningaloo Reef, WA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Halichoeres melanochir, Juvenile, Ningaloo Reef, WA, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Halichoeres melanochir, Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
    Halichoeres melanochir, Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
  • Halichoeres melanochir, Juvenile, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, Photo: Graham Edgar
    Halichoeres melanochir, Juvenile, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, Photo: Graham Edgar
Distribution
Temperate northern Pacific, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Purple, body grading to a light white/yellow tail, orange pelvic fins, often all fins orange, small black spot on the upper rear of tail base, large black spot at base of pectoral fin and fine black spots arranged in rows on side. Juveniles with black and white stripes along body, large ocellus on mid dorsal fin and a small ocellus on upper tail base.
Information
  • Max Size: 18 cm
  • Sea Temperature Range: 20.8-31.5°C
  • Depth: 5- 25m
  • Habitat: Coral Reef
  • Habitat Generalisation Index: 20.9
    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
Rarity
  • IUCN Threat Status: Least Concern
  • Occurrence: Common (20% 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: Several (9 per transect)
    Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Joe Shields
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