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Darkspot tuskfish (Choerodon monostigma) — Labridae

Darkspot tuskfish

Choerodon monostigma
Family: Labridae

The Darkspot tuskfish (Choerodon monostigma) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–40.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Darkspot tuskfish is a tuskfish (Labridae) from reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a robust, green-brown body with a conspicuous dark flank spot body with prominent, forward-projecting tusk-like teeth with which it crushes molluscs, crustaceans and sea urchins. As a bottom-oriented fish it swims over coral and rocky reefs and roots in the sand; like many wrasses a female changes sex on loss of the male. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Darkspot tuskfish?

The Darkspot tuskfish has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly green.

Where does the Darkspot tuskfish live?

The Darkspot tuskfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Darkspot tuskfish get?

The Darkspot tuskfish grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Darkspot tuskfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Darkspot tuskfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Donkervlek-tandlipvis sourced
English name
Darkspot tuskfish sourced
Scientific name
Choerodon monostigma
Family
Labridae
Other names
Dark-spot tuskfish; One-spot tusk-fish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
40.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Choerodon

More from the family Labridae

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