Cigar wrasse
The cigar wrasse, Cheilio inermis, is a species of wrasse native to the Indo-Pacific. It is mainly found on tropical reefs at depths to 30 m (98 ft) in the Indo-Pacific region, Red Sea included.[3] They inhabit seagrass beds and algae-covered flats, occasionally in lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of at least 30 m. They are a mostly solitary species. Their diet includes crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins, and other hard-shelled prey.[4]
Cigar wrasse | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Labriformes |
Family: | Labridae |
Genus: | Cheilio |
Species: | C. inermis |
Binomial name | |
Cheilio inermis (Forsskål, 1775) | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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Description
It grows to an average length of 35 cm (14 in) but can reach up to 50 cm (20 in).[5]
Young individuals are usually a mottled brown or green, sometimes with a broad lateral stripe. Rare individuals may be uniformly yellow. Large males may develop a bright yellow, orange, black, white, or multicolored patch on their sides behind their pectoral fins.[6]
Due to their adult size and diet, they are rarely kept in the aquarium.
References
- Cheung, W.W.L.; Sadovy, Y. & Liu, M. (2010). "Cheilio inermis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T187383A8520063. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187383A8520063.en. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). "Cheilio inermis" in FishBase. August 2019 version.
- http://eol.org/pages/994403/details#distribution
- http://eol.org/pages/994403/details#comprehensive_description
- http://www.fishbase.org/summary/5623
- http://eol.org/pages/994403/details#diagnostic_description
External links
- http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218948
- Photos of Cigar wrasse on Sealife Collection