Clown Wrasse

Halichoeres maculipinna

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Wide black stripe through eye to base of tail, bordered above by prominent gold line. Large black spot on mid-side. Large black spot on mid-side above origin of anal fin (Ref. 26938). Three transverse red bands on top of head; large adult males become primarily rose and green, lose the dark lateral stripe, gain a prominent black spot on mid-side, and have a larger black spot in the spinous portion of the dorsal fin.

Source: http://www.fishbase.org/summary/3664
Clown Wrasse A very beautiful clown wrasse (Halichoeres maculipinna) caught, photographed and released from Spanish Harbor Key, Florida. Clown Wrasse,Clown wrasse,Fish,Florida,Geotagged,Halichoeres maculipinna,United States

Habitat

Abundant on reef tops and in shallow rocky areas. Found to depths of at least 25 m. Also found in Sargassum beds. Solitary and wary and can be difficult to approach (Ref. 26938). The tricolored pattern of the initial phase is similar to that of the juveniles of the yellowmouth grouper, Mycteroperca interstitialis, an aggressive mimic. A protogynous hermaphrodite. Generally of no interest to fisheries because of its small average size.

Source: http://www.fishbase.org/summary/3664

References:

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Status: Unknown
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderPerciformes
FamilyLabridae
GenusHalichoeres
Species