Bodianus mesothorax
No common name
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Labridae (Wrasses)
Bodianus
Bodianus mesothorax
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal. Juveniles and adults resemble their counterparts of B. axillaris, but juveniles have yellow rather than white spots and adults have well-defined black band between the light and dark portions of the body and lack ocelli on the dorsal and anal fins. Color of juveniles changes completely to adult pattern when about 5-6 cm long. The change takes only a few weeks and intermediates are rarely seen (Ref. 48636). Striking features: none.
Distribution
Western Pacific between Wakayama Pref., Japan and Sydney, Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji. Indian Ocean, along the western coast of Malaysia and Indonesia, and at least in the Nicobars at the edge of the Andaman Sea. Evidently excluded from the oceanic mid-Pacific plate;
Habitat Associations
Marine. reef-associated. depth range 0-60 m. Found in: coral reefs.
Biology
Ranging into subtropical zones as juveniles expatriate caused by warm currents during pelagic stage (Ref. 48636). Adults inhabit coral-rich outer reef slopes at depths of 5 to over 20 m, particularly near caves. Juveniles in caves; adults swim openly about, but usually close to the substrate, and often engage in cleaning larger fishes (Ref. 48636). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Max length: 25.0 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; mating system: monogamy; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2008-04-12. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Myers, R.F. (1991) Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p.
Baensch, H.A. and H. Debelius (1997) SF457.1 .B3513 1994 Mergus Verlag GmbH, Postfach 86, 49302, Melle, Germany. 1216 p. 3rd edition.
Allen, G.R. and R.C. Steene (1988) Fishes of Christmas Island Indian Ocean. Christmas Island Natural History Association, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean, 6798, Australia. 197 p.
Gomon, M.F. (2006) A revision of the labrid fish genus Bodianus with descriptions of eight new species. Rec. Aust. Mus. Suppl. 30:1-133.
Hanel, R., M.W. Westneat and C. Sturmbauer (2002) Phylogenetic relationships, evolution of broodcare behavior, and geographic speciation in the wrasse Tribe Labrini. J. Molec. Evol. 55:776-789.
Coleman, R., J.M. Copus, D.M. Coffey, R.K. Whitton and B.W. Bowen (2018) Shifting reef fish assemblages along a depth gradient in Pohnpei, Micronesia. PeerJ, 6: e4650. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4650
Comments On Bodianus mesothorax