Halichoeres caudalis
Painted Wrasse
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Labridae (Wrasses)
Halichoeres
Halichoeres caudalis (Painted Wrasse)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Moderately elongate, with a pointed snout, a complete lateral line, and eye close to dorsal profile of head. Upper and lower profiles of body are nearly symmetrical. Mouth has a prominent downward-projecting flap extending from lower lip. Upper jaw has a single outward-directed canine near symphysis, a row of 9 to 13 smaller teeth, and a small canine in corner. Lower jaw has two pairs of forward-directed canines near symphysis and a row of smaller teeth. Preopercular membrane is filamentous. Gill membranes are broadly joined and united with isthmus. Gill rakers on first arch are short and number 16 to 19. Measurements are expressed as percent of SL: head length 29%–31%, snout length 9%–11%, eye diameter 4%–5%, upper jaw length 6%– 8%, pectoral fin length 18%–21%, body depth 23%–28%. Pectoral fin is fanlike and has 13 rays. Dorsal fin has nine spines and 11 rays, with membrane behind spines forming short tabs. Anal fin has three spines and 12 rays. Caudal fin is slightly rounded to truncate. Body and base of caudal fin are covered with scales, but head is largely naked. Lateral line is strongly arched posteriorly and has 27 single-pored scales.
Color in life is olive green dorsally and bright blue ventrally, with a yellow stripe on lower flank, and each scale possesses an olive spot surrounded by a blue ring. A small blue spot is located behind eye. Juveniles are tan with two streaks on side, and the area between streaks is pale orange. Color in preservative is light brown, with a small dark spot behind and slightly above level of center of eye.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from North Carolina to Venezuela, including the northern and southern Gulf of Mexico
Habitat Associations
Between 26 and 73 m depth
Biology
176 mm SL
Inhabits deep seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Generally of no interest to fisheries because of its small average size (Ref. 5217).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; mating system: monogamy. 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: minor commercial.
References
Longley and Hildebrand 1941
Randall and Böhlke 1965
Hastings and Bortone 1976
Sonnier et al. 1976
Hastings 1979
Hoese and Moore 1977
Hoese and Moore 1998
Robins and Ray 1986
Boschung 1992
Westneat 2002a
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Cervigón, F. (1993) Los peces marinos de Venezuela. Volume 2. Fundación Científica Los Roques, Caracas,Venezuela. 497 p.
Uyeno, T., K. Matsuura and E. Fujii (eds.) (1983) Fishes trawled off Suriname and French Guiana. Japan Marine Fishery Resource Research Center, Tokyo, Japan. 519 p.
Comments On Halichoeres caudalis