LABRIDAE


Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura, 6.4 cm SL
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura
(Bleeker, 1851)
Blueside Wrasse

D XI, 9; A III, 9; P1 15; LLp 15-17 + 5-8; GR 16-19.

Body moderately slender. Snout somewhat obtuse and short; maxilla reaching to a vertical between posterior nostril and orbit; 3 pairs of canines anteriorly in upper jaw, a single pair of canines in lower jaw. Posterior margin of preopercle serrate. Eye with modified scleral cornea forming a double pupil. Predorsal scales 6 (rarely 5); snout, ventral portion of head, and interorbital space naked; 2 rows of scales on cheek. Caudal rounded in young, rhomboid in large males. Color: initial phase reddish, shading to white ventrally on head and abdomen, with a small black spot posteriorly on upper side of caudal peduncle and a dark bar at pectoral-fin base extending slightly below; red to blue spots often present on posterior head, nape, and dorsoanteriorly on body. Males with region of pectoral fins and above darkblue grey; body reddish posteriorly with dark purple edges on a few to many scales; head green to blue-green; lower fourth of head and body abruptly white. Size: maximum length about 15 cm. Distribution: Western Pacific, from Andaman Sea and Christmas Island to southern Japan and Great Barrier Reef. Remarks: feeds on zooplankton in the water column.