Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Labriformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Cheilinus (Genus)

Vieille triple queue, Tripletail maori wrasse, Maori wrasse, Trilobed maori wrasse, Triple-tail maori, Triple-tail maori-wrasse, Tripletail wrasse, Dreilappen-Lippfisch, Driestert-lipvis, Bodião trilobado, Maorí chocolate, Mitsuba-mochino-uo, ミツバモチノウオ, 三叶唇鱼, 三葉唇魚,

Synonymes
Cheilinus fasciatopunctatus (Steindachner, 1863)
Cheilinus fasciato-punctatus (Steindachner, 1863)
Cheilinus festivus (Valenciennes, 1840)
Cheilinus lunifer (Nichols, 1923)
Cheilinus maculosus (Valenciennes, 1840)
Cheilinus nebulosus (Richardson, 1846)
Cheilinus pulchellus (Sauvage, 1880)
Cheilinus rivulatus (Valenciennes, 1840)
Cheilinus sinuosus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Cheilinus tetrazona (Bleeker, 1853)
Cheilinus trilobus (Schinz, 1822)
Chelinus trilobatus (Lacepède, 1801)

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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8; Pectoral fin rays: 12 (uppermost two rays unbranched); Lateral line pored scales: 14-16 + 7-8; Gill rakers: 10-11; Body moderately deep, depth: 2.3-2.6 in SL; Head profile straight to above eyes, then slightly convex; Head scaly dorsally to above middle of eyes. Anterior tip of snout forming an acute angle; Jaws prominent, 2 strong canines anteriorly in each jaw; No enlarged tooth in rear of upper jaw. Lateral line interrupted below posterior portion of dorsal-fin base; Scales reaching well onto bases of dorsal and anal fins; Scales in front of dorsal fin extending forward to above centre of eye; Cheek and opercle scaled; Lower jaw without scales. Pelvic fins of adults long, extending to near anal fin origin; Caudal fin rounded, upper and lower rays of adult males elongate, giving fin trilobed shape; Posterior dorsal- and anal fin rays of adult females forming rounded margin, longest dorsal fin ray: 1.8-2.4 in HL, but these fins in adult males acutely pointed, longest anal fin ray: ~1.5 in HL. Max. length: 45.0 cm TL. Depth range: 1 - 30 m.

Color
The species is able to rapidly change color, body ranging from green to brown with mottled purple and red markings; 4 vertical dark bars on body that are often indistinct on large individuals; Head with numerous small red spots; Red lines radiating from anterior and posterior of eye; Scales on sides each with a vertical, slightly curved red line; Dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins yellow or green with distal red streaks; Caudal fin green with a red posterior margin; Juveniles with 3-4 dark spots midlaterally on sides and more prominent dark bars.

Etymology
Cheilinus: from Greek, chèilos = lip. Referring to extensible upper lip of Cheilinus trilobatus (Lacepède, 1801).
trilobatus: from Latin, tres = three + from Latin, lobātus = having lobes, lobate. Referring to caudal fin, rounded in the middle with protruding upper and lower lobes.
Original description: Cheilinus trilobatus (Lacepède, 1801) - Type localities: Réunion Island, western Mascarenes; Mauritius, Mascarenes; Madagascar, western Indian Ocean. 

Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), East Africa, Socotra (Yemen), Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar and Mascarenes (La Réunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues), east to Wake Atoll and Gambier Islands (French Polynesia), north to southern Japan, south to Western Australia, New Caledonia and Austral Islands (French Polynesia).

Biology
Adults inhabit lagoon and seaward reefs, and relatively common along shallow reef margins with good coral cover. Usually solitary. Feed mainly on shelled benthic invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans, but occasionally take fishes. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Difficult to approach. Juveniles secretive on algae reefs and usually around stinging hydrozoans. Aquarium fish.

Similar species

• Cheilinus abudjubbe (Rüppell, 1835) - Reported from Red Sea; Northwestern Indian Ocean: Gulf of Aden. Max. length: 21.8 cm SL.
• Cheilinus chlorourus (Bloch, 1791) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). The only Cheilinus that has 10 dorsal spines. Large adults have numerous red spots and streaks on the head and trilobed caudal fins. Max. length: 45.0 cm TL.
• Cheilinus oxycephalus (Bleeker, 1853) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). Brownish red, mottled with small whitish spots; Dark brown spot anteriorly on each side of upper lip; Two dark lines diverging from the eye; Dark brown spot on first two dorsal membranes. Deep-bodied for genus, and snout pointed. Max. length: 17.0 cm TL.

Last update: 1, September 2024