TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Labridae (Wrasses)
Genus/species: Halichoeres prosopeion
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Adults green-blue in front fading to light yellow behind. A dark spot behind the eye; dorsal fin with large black spot near the front. Unlike most wrasses, no obvious differences between sexes.
Length up to 13 cm (5 inches).
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Western Pacific; east to Indonesia and Sumatra, north to southern Japan, south to Great Barrier Reef. Habitat: Lagoons and seaward reefs. Depth range 2 – 40 m (6.5 -130 feet).
DIET IN THE WILD: Small crabs, shrimps, worms, and other benthic invertebrate.
REMARKS: Like many wrasses, it quickly buries itself in sand when threatened or alarmed.
CONSERVATION: IUCN Least concern
References
California Academy of Sciences Philippine coral reef 2016
Vetted J. Charles Delbeek, M.Sc.
Assistant Curator, Steinhart Aquarium
Ron’s Wordpress shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1fe
Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/13572020553/in/album-72157625992053826/
fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Halichoeres-prosopeion.html
EOL eol.org/pages/211449/details