Rock Wrasse
Halichoeres semicinctus
Physical Description
- Long, slender bodied fish, with a pointed head, small mouth, and protruding teeth.
- Greenish brown coloring with brownish vertical bars.
- Distinguished from señorita because have no black spot in front of tail fin.
- Measures up to 15 inches long.
- Males have a large dark blue bar behind pectoral (side) fins, which are yellow.
- Juveniles have a white stripe down the middle of their side, and a small black dot on their dorsal (back) fin.
Range
- Point Conception, California to Guadalupe Island, Baja California, Mexico.
- Gulf of California, Mexico.
Habitat
- Lives in shallow water, like rocky shores.
- Prefers patches of coarse sand.
- Can be found in tide pools.
Reproduction
- Spawning occurs in the summer months.
- Reproduction occurs via group spawning events for smaller individuals.
- Some larger males attempt elaborate mating displays and pair spawning events, but are not always successful.
Diet
- Amphipods, small crabs, dove shells, and slipper shells.
Predators
- Natural predators of wrasse are larger fish, barracuda, and sharks.
Interesting Facts
- They all start their lives as females and once they are about 12 inches long, become male!
- They sleep at night by burying themselves in the sand with only their heads sticking out.
Sources: pierfishing.com; Fish Base; Ben Frable, Scripps Institution of Oceanography; Adreani and Allen 2008
Photo: Herb Gruenhagen