Humphead Wrasseメガネモチノウオ

Species Data

Classification

Labriformes / Labridae Source

Distribution

Widely distributed across Indo-Pacific coral reefs, from the Red Sea and East Africa through the Indian and Pacific Oceans to the central Pacific. Source

Did You Know?

• Mature males develop a bulging, humped forehead and an enlarged head that can make up roughly a third of their total length, while their coloration transforms dramatically from the pale blue-and-indigo pattern of juveniles and females into a yellowish-brown to blue-green hue. Source
• It is one of the few natural predators of the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish, and has been observed cracking open sea urchins by carrying them to a rock and striking them against it, a tool-like feeding behavior. Source
• Highly prized in the live reef food fish trade, it has suffered catastrophic declines from overfishing—populations in Sabah, Malaysia, are estimated to have fallen by about 99%—leading to its Endangered status. Source

FAQ

Why is the humphead wrasse endangered?

It is heavily targeted for the live reef food fish trade, where it commands very high prices; combined with its slow growth and late sexual maturity, this has caused severe population declines, with some areas like Sabah, Malaysia, seeing drops of about 99%. Source

What makes the humphead wrasse important to coral reefs?

It is one of the few predators willing to eat the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish, helping to keep outbreaks of this reef-destroying species in check. Source