LABRIDAE


Oxycheilinus digramma, 13.7 cm SL
(from North Sulawesi, Indonesia; photo by Seishi Kimura)


Oxycheilinus digramma
(Lacepède, 1801)
Cheeklined Maori Wrasse

D IX, 10; A III, 8; P1 12; LLp 14-16 + 7-9.

Body moderately slender. Head pointed, dorsal profile nearly straight, slightly concave in front of eye in large adults. Jaws prominent, anterior tip of lower jaw ending anterior to tip of upper jaw; 2 strong canines situated anteriorly in each 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; caudal fin slightly rounded to truncate. Color: variably colored; body olive-green to grey-brown fading to orange red on anteroventral surface, with an orangered bar or spot on each scale; head with irregular orange lines on upper part parallel to dorsal profile, radiating from eye, and a series of about 8 diagonal purple lines on lower cheek; large central portion of caudal fin mainly green. Size: maximum length about 40 cm. Distribution: Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and Red Sea to Marshall Islands and Samoa. Remarks: found on coral reefs at depths of 3-30 m. Feeds primarily on fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans.