The fisherman can then easily capture the fish, even breaking away parts of the coral reef in order to reach it. Known for their vibrant colors, penchant for munching coral and — ahem — unconventional production of sand, these fish are vital pieces of a marine ecosystem. A bump on their foreheads (which is the feature that gives them their name). As its name suggests, it has a prominent ‘hump’ on its forehead. Young Humphead wrasses are most often found in shallow sandy areas alongside coral reefs, whereas adults favor deeper areas of the reef. One way of catching the humphead wrasse alive is to stun it with cyanide or a similar poisonous substance. The humphead wrasse’s diet consists of mollusks, fish, echinoderms (star fish, sea urchins, etc.) Wrasses range from about 5 cm (2 inches) to 2 metres (6.5 feet) or more in length. Sadly, Humphead Wrasse are considered an endangered species, and recreational anglers are prohibited form harvesting them in many areas. Visit our main animals page: You can find out about more endangered animals here. They are easily identifiable by their thick lips and the prominent bump on their foreheads. Active Wild Pinterest Active Wild Facebook. The wrasses are a family, the Labridae, of marine fish, many of which are brightly coloured.The family is large and diverse, with over 600 species in 82 genera.. With the help of over 7,000 of the world’s best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, Arkive.org featured multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. The humphead wrasse is specifically targeted in this manner, and is harvested intensively. Click on the photo below to discover this week’s animal! Crown of thorns starfish that invade the whole coral reefs and eat them bare within a short time are being decimated by the wrasse. The Humphead, Maori or Napoleon (to mention but a few of its many names) wrasse,Cheilinus undulatus, is the largest member of the family Labridae and widely distributed across the reefs of the Indo-Pacific. Pictures, Information & Video, Golden Lion Tamarin Facts, Pictures, Information & Video. It has large scales that can reach up to 10 cm in diameter. What triggers the change is still not known. They have thick lips that will extend out when food is nearby. Fact #3: Humphead wrasse … Interesting Facts About the Humphead Wrasse. The humphead wrasse is usually a blue-green color, but can also occur in a variety of blue, green and purple shades. The humphead wrasse is an enormous coral reef fish—growing over six feet long—with a prominent bulge on its forehead. They can live up to 30 years. In other words, a female that changes into a male. Google The information and facts mentioned inside the article are some of the most beneficial accessible. This huge fish is important to the health of the coral reefs where it lives. Also known as the humphead wrasse, this behemoth is known for its broad lips, strong teeth, vibrant colors, and the pronounced hump on its forehead. The Humphead Wrasse is listed as an endangered species because of the excessive harvest of this fish for various purposes. The species is much sought after, particularly as a live export for the restaurant industry. ).This species is also known by the following name(s): Humphead, Humphead Wrasse, Maori Wrasse, Napoleon Wrasse, Truck Wrasse, Undulate Wrasse. (3) The young ones are found in shallow sandy regions whereas the adults are found in the deeper coral reef areas. Humphead Wrasse range in … Males are blue or green, but females are shades of red, brown, or gray. Conservation . Humphead Wrasse is very beautiful and interesting looking fish. Being so large, the humphead wrasse has few natural predators. (7) The Humphead Wrasse usually lives a lonely life. The humphead wrasse is among the most prized species in the lucrative trade of reef fish. A number of countries now have conservation measures in place to protect the humphead wrasse. The Maori Wrasse - A Colorful, Inquisitive Tropical Fish The Maori wrasse (Ophthalmolepis lineolata) is an oceanic fish that inhabits the coral reefs, rocky coasts and sandy, weedy bays off eastern and southern Australia. Some species, such as humphead wrasse, are listed as endangered due to over-fishing and destruction of coral reefs (their habitat). The coloring of adult humphead wrasses can range from a dull blue-green to brilliant shades of green or purplish-blue. Humphead wrasses reach sexual maturity aged around 5 to 7 years. (protogyny—female function precedes male function) Unique Features of the Humphead Wrasse. (4) The fish is very large and grows up to 2 meters. 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