Home · Labridae · Allen's tubelip
Allen's tubelip (Labropsis alleni) — Labridae

Allen's tubelip

Labropsis alleni
Family: Labridae

The Allen's tubelip (Labropsis alleni) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
4–52 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Solomon Is., Fiji, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Micronesia and others

Want the complete picture on the Allen's tubelip?

Description

Allen's tubelip is a small wrasse (Labridae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has an elongate body with thick, tube-like lips. Juveniles clean parasites from other fish; adults feed mainly on coral polyps and mucus. As a reef-dweller it lives on coral-rich slopes. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Allen's tubelip?

The Allen's tubelip has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Allen's tubelip live?

The Allen's tubelip lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Solomon Is., Fiji, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Micronesia and others

How big does the Allen's tubelip get?

The Allen's tubelip grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Allen's tubelip dangerous to humans?

No, the Allen's tubelip is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Allen's tubelip (Labropsis alleni) — Labridae — 2
Randall, John E. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Allen's tubelip (Labropsis alleni) — Labridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Allen's tubelip (Labropsis alleni) — Labridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) François Libert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Allen's tubelip (Labropsis alleni) — Labridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Francois Libert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Want the complete picture on the Allen's tubelip?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Allen's tubelip is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Allen's tubelip sourced
Scientific name
Labropsis alleni
Family
Labridae
Other names
Allen's tubelip; Allen's wrasse; Frosty-tail wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
4 verified
Max depth (m)
52 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Solomon Is., Fiji, Indonesia, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Micronesia and others sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates
Territorial
No
Activity
Diurnal
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
Yes
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Labropsis

More from the family Labridae

Want the complete picture on the Allen's tubelip?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Allen's tubelip is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Is this the Allen's tubelip?