Eight-lined wrasse
A solitary wrasse that sleeps in a mucus cocoon.
The eight-lined wrasse (Pseudocheilinus octotaenia) is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the wrasse family Labridae. It is native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, where it lives on coral reefs at depths between 2 and 50 meters, favoring shelter in caves and crevices. This species also appears in the aquarium trade.
Coloration ranges from reddish to yellowish, with about eight thin, purplish horizontal stripes along the sides; the top three stripes extend onto the head. Small yellow spots mark the cheek and gill cover, and some individuals have larger yellow blotches or dashes on the body. It reaches a standard length of up to 14 cm.
Its distribution spans the Indo-West Pacific, from the Comoros and Seychelles in the western Indian Ocean to Hawaii and Ducie Island, north to the Yaeyama Islands in Japan and south to New Caledonia.
A benthopelagic species, it is found among rubble or live corals on seaward reefs, especially in areas with caves and crevices rich in invertebrate growth. It occurs down to at least 40 meters deep. Carnivorous, it feeds mainly on benthic crustaceans, along with small molluscs, sea urchins, fish eggs, and crab larvae. Solitary and active during the day, it takes shelter in cavities at night, where it spins a mucus cocoon to sleep in—likely to mask its scent from nocturnal predators.
In the aquarium trade, the eight-lined wrasse is available but not commonly traded, and it has not been bred in captivity. It was first formally described by American physiologist and histologist Oliver Peebles Jenkins, with the type locality given as Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.
Quick Facts
- Scientific name
- Pseudocheilinus octotaenia
- Family
- Labridae
- Maximum standard length
- 14 cm
- Depth range
- 2 to 50 m
- First described by
- Oliver Peebles Jenkins
- Type locality
- Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The eight-lined wrasse is reddish to yellowish in colour, marked with about eight thin purplish horizontal stripes along its flanks; the three uppermost stripes extend onto its head. Small yellow spots appear on the cheek and gill cover, and some individuals display large yellow blotches or dashes on the body. It is a benthopelagic species found among rubble or live corals of seaward reefs, especially in areas with caves and crevices rich in invertebrate growth. This carnivorous fish preys mostly on benthic crustaceans, as well as small molluscs, sea urchins, fish eggs, and crab larvae. It is a solitary, diurnal species that takes shelter in cavities at night, where it creates a mucus cocoon thought to mask its scent from nocturnal predators.
Reader's Guide
The eight-lined wrasse is a notable member of the aquarium trade, though it is not commonly traded and has not been bred in captivity. Its striking coloration—reddish to yellowish with eight thin purplish stripes and yellow markings—makes it visually distinctive among wrasses. The species was first formally described by American physiologist and histologist Oliver Peebles Jenkins, with the type locality given as Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Its Indo-West Pacific distribution spans from the Comoros and Seychelles in the western Indian Ocean to Hawaii and Ducie Island, extending north to the Yaeyama Islands in Japan and south to New Caledonia. Ecologically, it plays a role as a predator of benthic invertebrates and fish eggs on coral reefs. Its habit of secreting a mucus cocoon for overnight protection is a unique behavioral adaptation that helps it avoid detection by nocturnal predators. Despite its presence in the aquarium trade, the species remains wild-caught, and its solitary, cave-dwelling nature influences its care requirements in captivity.
Did You Know?
- The eight-lined wrasse creates a mucus cocoon to sleep in at night, which may mask its scent from predators.
- It can grow to a standard length of 14 cm.
- Its diet includes benthic crustaceans, small molluscs, sea urchins, fish eggs, and crab larvae.
- The species was first described by Oliver Peebles Jenkins from a specimen collected in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the eight-lined wrasse?
The eight-lined wrasse is a small marine ray-finned fish in the wrasse family Labridae, native to coral reefs across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Its scientific name, Pseudocheilinus octotaenia, was first assigned by the ichthyologist Oliver Peebles Jenkins.
Where can you find the eight-lined wrasse in the wild?
It occurs throughout the Indo-West Pacific, with records from the Comoros, Seychelles, Hawaii, Ducie Island, Japan's Yaeyama Islands, and New Caledonia. The species occupies depths from roughly 2 to 50 meters, favoring caves and crevices on reef structures.
What does the eight-lined wrasse look like?
Its body is reddish to yellowish, marked by about eight thin purplish horizontal stripes along the flanks, with the top three continuing onto the head. Small yellow spots dot the cheek and gill cover, and some individuals display larger yellow blotches or dashes on the body.
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