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Bicolor cleaner wrasse (Labroides bicolor) — Labridae

Bicolor cleaner wrasse

Labroides bicolor
Family: Labridae
LC · Least Concern

The Bicolor cleaner wrasse (Labroides bicolor) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–40.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The bicolor cleaner wrasse is a wrasse from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 15 cm and has an elongate body that is dark blue in front and yellow to white behind. Like other cleaner wrasses it runs cleaning stations where larger reef fish come to have parasites and dead skin removed. It moves with a conspicuous dancing motion to attract clients. Like many wrasses it is a protogynous hermaphrodite. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bicolor cleaner wrasse?

The Bicolor cleaner wrasse has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly blue and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Bicolor cleaner wrasse live?

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

How big does the Bicolor cleaner wrasse get?

The Bicolor cleaner wrasse grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Bicolor cleaner wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Bicolor cleaner wrasse is harmless to humans.

Is the Bicolor cleaner wrasse edible?

The Bicolor cleaner wrasse is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tweekleurige poetslipvis verified
English name
Bicolor cleaner wrasse verified
Scientific name
Labroides bicolor
Family
Labridae
Other names
Bicolor cleaner wrasse; Bicolor cleanerfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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 Labroides

More from the family Labridae

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