LABRIDAE


Hemigymnus fasciatus, 29.8 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Hemigymnus fasciatus
(Bloch, 1792)
Barred Thicklip Wrasse

D IX, 11; A III, 11; P1 13-14; LLp 27-28.

Body deep. Lips large and fleshy, the lower lips split on the middle forming 2 lobes. Lateral line complete, abruptly curved below posterior portion of dorsal-fin base. Scales in front of dorsal fin extending forward to above center of eye; cheek with a narrow band of scales below eye; opercle and lower jaw without scales. Caudal fin slightly rounded to truncate. Color: body whitish with 5 broad black vertical bars; head yellowish green with irregular blue and black-edged pink to orange bands; dorsal fin brown with bluish stripes and spots; anal fin black with several blue stripes; caudal fin brown. Size: maximum length about 50 cm. Distribution: Indo-Pacific. Remarks: feeds primarily on small invertebrates.