Bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Thalassoma bifasciatum
- Common name
- Bluehead wrasse
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Labridae
- Genus
- Thalassoma
- Size
- 10–25 cm
- Depth
- 1–40 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef
- Behaviours
- schooling, cleaner
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Thalassoma bifasciatum, the bluehead wrasse, reaches 25 cm. Terminal-phase males spectacular: deep blue head separated from yellow-white body by two vertical black bands. Protogynous hermaphrodite with complex dimorphism. Well-documented cleaning behavior: juveniles pick parasites off larger fish (groupers, sharks). A model species in evolutionary biology. Ubiquitous on Caribbean reefs.
Photo of Bluehead wrasse
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Bluehead wrasse?
- Bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum) reaches 10–25 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Bluehead wrasse?
- Bluehead wrasse is found between 1–40 m deep.
- Is the Bluehead wrasse dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Bluehead wrasse?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Bluehead wrasse?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Thalassoma
- Thalassoma pavo - Ornate wrasse
- Thalassoma lunare - Moon wrasse
- Thalassoma lucasanum - Cortez rainbow wrasse
- Thalassoma newtoni - Newton's wrasse
- Thalassoma lutescens - Rainbow Wrasse
- Thalassoma grammaticum - Bluehead Wrasse
Other species in the family Labridae
- Cheilinus undulatus - Humphead wrasse
- Labrus bergylta - Ballan Wrasse
- Sparisoma cretense - Mediterranean parrotfish
- Symphodus mediterraneus - Axillary wrasse
- Symphodus rostratus - Pointed-snout wrasse
- Symphodus ocellatus - Ocellated wrasse
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 159786)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2384533)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia