Canary wrasse
A bright yellow wrasse from central Indo-Pacific reefs.
The canary wrasse, also known as the golden or yellow wrasse, is a small fish from the central Indo-Pacific. It grows to a maximum length of 12 cm and has a thin, elongated body with a terminal mouth. Its bright yellow body color changes with age: juveniles and immature females have two black spots edged in white or light yellow on the dorsal fin, plus a third spot between the tail fin and the body. Mature females or young males keep only the two spots on the dorsal fin, while mature males show just one spot at the front of the dorsal fin, a lighter spot behind the eye, and irregular greenish to pinkish bars on the face. This wrasse lives in small groups on outer reef slopes, rubble, and sandy areas, from the surface down to 30 meters deep. Its range stretches from Christmas Islands and Indonesia to Japan, New South Wales, the Rowley Shoals, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands. It is a benthic predator, feeding mainly on small marine invertebrates like crustaceans, molluscs, worms, and echinoderms caught on or in the substrate. Like most wrasses, it is a protogynous hermaphrodite—starting life as a female with the ability to become male later. On the IUCN Red List, it is listed as Least Concern, and while it is targeted by the aquarium trade, this is not considered a threat.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Halichoeres chrysus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Halichoeres chrysus has a thin, elongate body with a terminal mouth and reaches a maximum length of 12 cm. Body coloration is bright yellow with variations by age: juveniles and immature females have two black spots rimmed with white or light yellow on the dorsal fin and a third between the caudal peduncle and caudal fin; mature females or young males show only the two dorsal spots; mature males display only the first black spot on the dorsal fin, a lighter spot behind the eye, and irregular greenish to pinkish bars on the face.
Reader's Guide
Halichoeres chrysus is a small, benthic predator that plays a role in controlling populations of small invertebrates on reef slopes and sandy areas. It lives in small groups and forages for crustaceans, molluscs, worms and echinoderms in the substrate. As a protogynous hermaphrodite, it begins life as a female and can later transform into a male, a reproductive strategy common among wrasses. In the aquarium trade, the species is targeted but is not thought to be threatened by it, and it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Did You Know?
- Juveniles and immature females have three black spots, while mature males have only one.
- It feeds on small marine invertebrates including crustaceans, molluscs, worms and echinoderms.
- It is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is targeted but not threatened by the aquarium trade.
More in Wrasses
Elsewhere in Reef Aquarium Species
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