Slippery dick (Halichoeres bivittatus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Halichoeres bivittatus
- Common name
- Slippery dick
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Labridae
- Genus
- Halichoeres
- Size
- 10–25 cm
- Depth
- 1–20 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef, seagrass, sand
- Behaviours
- solitary, fast-moving
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Halichoeres bivittatus reaches 25 cm. Slender-bodied wrasse with two dark-brown longitudinal stripes on a green-yellow, pink or whitish background depending on phase. Protogynous hermaphrodite with three phases: initial (female), intermediate and terminal (male), each colored differently. Common on Caribbean reefs, seagrass and sands from 1 to 20 m. Very fast and curious, sometimes approaches divers.
Photo of Slippery dick
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Slippery dick?
- Slippery dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) reaches 10–25 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Slippery dick?
- Slippery dick is found between 1–20 m deep.
- Is the Slippery dick dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Slippery dick?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Slippery dick?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Halichoeres
- Halichoeres pictus - Rainbow wrasse
- Halichoeres cyanocephalus - Yellowcheek wrasse
- Halichoeres radiatus - Puddingwife wrasse
- Halichoeres garnoti - Yellowhead wrasse
- Halichoeres hortulanus - Ornate Wrasse
- Halichoeres marginatus - Blackedge Wrasse
Other species in the family Labridae
- Labrus merula - Brown wrasse
- Bodianus rufus - Spanish hogfish
- Bodianus pulchellus - Cuban hogfish
- Sparisoma chrysopterum - Redtail parrotfish
- Sparisoma rubripinne - Yellowtail parrotfish
- Scarus iseri - Striped parrotfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 158815)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2384268)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia