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Bird wrasse (Gomphosus caeruleus) — Labridae

Bird wrasse

Gomphosus caeruleus
Family: Labridae
LC · Least Concern

The Bird wrasse (Gomphosus caeruleus) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 32 cm.

Length
32 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–35.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The bird wrasse is a striking wrasse from the western Indian Ocean. The species grows to about 32 cm and has a strongly elongated, beak-like snout with which it picks prey from crevices and coral branches. Adult males are bright blue-green, females and juveniles brownish with a paler belly. It lives actively swimming on coral reefs and hunts small crustaceans, snails and small fish. Like other wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bird wrasse?

The Bird wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly green and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Bird wrasse live?

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

How big does the Bird wrasse get?

The Bird wrasse grows to a maximum of about 32 cm.

Is the Bird wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Bird wrasse is harmless to humans.

Is the Bird wrasse edible?

The Bird wrasse is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Indische snavelvis verified
English name
Bird wrasse verified
Scientific name
Gomphosus caeruleus
Family
Labridae
Other names
Bird wrasse; Birdfish; Blue green bird wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
32.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
35.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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 sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Gomphosus

More from the family Labridae

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