LABRIDAE


Anampses meleagrides, 14.8 cm SL
(from Ryukyu Is., Japan; photo by Keiichi Matsuura)


Anampses meleagrides
Valenciennes, 1840
Spotted Wrasse

D IX, 12; A III, 12; P1 13; LLp 26; GR 18-20.

Body slightly to moderately deep, compressed. Mouth small, terminal; lips moderately fleshy. A single pair of incisiform forward-projecting teeth at front of each jaw; remaining teeth in jaws minute or imperceptible; no teeth at corner of mouth or on roof of mouth. Head scaleless. Caudal fin truncate to emarginate. Color: females dark brown with a small round white spot on each scale of body; head and dorsal and anal fins dark brown with small white spots; caudal fin bright yellow. Males dark reddish brown with a blue line on each scale of body, blue spots on caudal peduncle, and rows of blue dashes on abdomen; head and thorax with irregular blue lines; caudal fin orange with dark-edged blue spots and white posterior crescent preceded by a narrow blue band. Size: maximum length about 21 cm. Distribution: Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and Red Sea to Samoa and Caroline Islands. Remarks: inhabits a broad range of reef habitats, in area of mixed coral, rubble, rock or sand at depths of 4-60 m.