LABRIDAE


Oxycheilinus celebicus, 8.0 cm SL
(from North Sulawesi, Indonesia; photo by Seishi Kimura)


Oxycheilinus celebicus
(Bleeker, 1853)
Slender Maori Wrasse

D IX, 10; A III, 8; P1 12; LLp 15-16 + 7; GR 6-8 + 10-13.

Anterior tip of lower jaw ending anterior to tip of upper jaw. Lateral line interrupted below posterior portion of dorsal-fin base. Scaly sheath extending onto dorsal and anal fins; predorsal scales 6 reaching forward to vertical at center of eye; cheek scales reaching just anterior to forward extent of orbit; subopercular scales extending anteriorly to vertical at center of eye. Pelvic fins short, not reaching anus. Color: body yellowish brown, becoming whitish ventrally with scales on back and midside of body marked with blackish brown bars, the bars becoming more darker along midlateral and on peduncle; 3 midlateral white spots on caudal peduncle to base of caudal fin; head with red lines radiating from eye; nape and predorsal region flecked with irregular orangish lines or spots; dorsal and anal fins brownish yellow with oblique reddish lines, and posteriorly on soft-rayed portions with reddish reticulations and yellowish spots; rays of dorsal and anal fins greenish; a blackish spot on first membrane dorsal fin; caudal fin brownish mottled with black, and with reddish edged translucent yellowish spots; pelvic fins brownish yellow with a large blackish blotch basally. Size: maximum length about 24 cm. Distribution: Andaman Sea and western Pacific. Remarks: found in coral-rich areas of protected reefs at depths of 3-30 m.