Floral wrasse

The floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean from the coast of Africa to the Tuamotus and Marquesas. Its range extends as far north as the Ryukyus and south to New Caledonia. It is an inhabitant of reefs in lagoons or coastal waters at depths of from 1 to 30 m (3.3 to 98.4 ft). This species can reach 45 cm (18 in) in total length. It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can also be found in the aquarium trade.^[2]

Floral wrasse
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Labriformes
Family:	Labridae
Genus:	Cheilinus
Species:	C. chlorourus
Binomial name
Cheilinus chlorourus (Bloch, 1791)
Synonyms[2]
Sparus chlorourus Bloch, 1791 Cheilinus punctatus E. T. Bennett, 1832 Crenilabrus blochii Swainson, 1839 Cheilinus blochii Valenciennes, 1840 Cheilinus punctulatus Valenciennes, 1840 Cheilinus guttatus Bleeker, 1847 Cheilinus decacanthus Bleeker, 1851

Description

It has a mottled body with sand colored spots. It is about 13in.

Habitat

The Floral wrasse lives in reefs in lagoon and coastal water at depth of 1–30 meters.

Distribution

The Floral wrasse lives from the West Indian Ocean to the central/west Pacific Ocean.

Diet

It mostly eats crustaceans, other invertebrates, and fish.