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Shoulder-spot wrasse (Leptojulis cyanopleura) — Labridae

Shoulder-spot wrasse

Leptojulis cyanopleura
Family: Labridae
LC · Least Concern

The Shoulder-spot wrasse (Leptojulis cyanopleura) is a saltwater fish of the family Labridae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
4.0–75.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The shoulder-spot wrasse is a small wrasse from the Indo-West Pacific, from the Gulf of Oman to the Philippines and Australia. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a brown to dusky longitudinal stripe; males bear a shiny blue spot in a dark band behind the pectoral fin. It forms groups, mostly females, above clear coastal slopes and outer reef lagoons and catches zooplankton well above the bottom. 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 Shoulder-spot wrasse?

The Shoulder-spot wrasse has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Shoulder-spot wrasse live?

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

How big does the Shoulder-spot wrasse get?

The Shoulder-spot wrasse grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Shoulder-spot wrasse dangerous to humans?

No, the Shoulder-spot wrasse is harmless to humans.

Is the Shoulder-spot wrasse edible?

The Shoulder-spot wrasse is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Schoudervlek-lipvis verified
English name
Shoulder-spot wrasse verified
Scientific name
Leptojulis cyanopleura
Family
Labridae
Other names
Blue-spot V-wrasse; Blue-spot wrasse; Shoulderspot wrasse verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy 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)
4.0 verified
Max depth (m)
75.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

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

More from the family Labridae

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