Canary wrasse

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.