HALICHOERES CLAUDIA - (RANDALL & ROCHA, 2009)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Labriformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Halichoeres (Genus)
Claudia's wrasse, Ornamental Wrasse, Ornamented Wrasse, Ornate Wrasse, Christmas Wrasse,
Synonyme
Biochoeres claudia (Randall & Rocha, 2009)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12; All dorsal and anal rays branched, the last to base; Pectoral fin rays: 13, upper 2 unbranched; Pelvic fin rays: I, 5; Principal caudal rays: 14, upper and lower ones unbranched; Upper procurrent caudal rays: 5-6 (usually: 6), posterior-most one segmented; Lower procurrent caudal rays: 5, posterior-most: 1 segmented; Lateral line scales: 28 (plus 1 pored scale on caudal-fin base); Median predorsal scales: 9; Near-vertical rows of scales on chest: 9; No scales on cheek or opercle; Gill rakers: 16-20; Brachiostegal rays: 5; vertebrae: 25. Body depth: 3.15-3.55 in SL; A pair of large projecting canine teeth anteriorly in each jaw, and a strong canine at corner of mouth; 9th dorsal spine longest: 2.5-2.65 in Head Length; Body moderately compressed, width: 2.15-2.5 (usually: 2.25) in Body Depth; Head length: 3.15-3.2 (usually: 3.2) in SL; Snout length: 2.8-3.2 (usually: 2.85) in Head Length; Orbit diameter: 3.95-5.25 (usually: 4.85); Interorbital space convex, least width: 3.7-4.05 (usually: 3.95) in Head Length; Caudal peduncle depth: 1.9-2.05 (usually: 2.05) in Head Length; Caudal peduncle length: 3.7-3.95 (usually: 3.85) in Head Length. Max. length: 8.8 cm SL (male) - 5.6 cm SL (female). Depth range: 1 - 35 m, usually: 1 - 24 m.
Color
Pink to orangish yellow, the body with seven green to bluish green stripes, the 1st, 4th, and 6th containing enlarged lighter green spots; 2nd and 3rd green stripes dotted, merging below posterior part of dorsal fin; 6th green stripe initially curving downward from pectoral fin base and continuing above anal fin to caudal fin base; 7th stripe curving across chest onto abdomen; First green stripe continuing anteriorly onto head above eye, ending narrowly on snout; Middle green stripes of body merging anteriorly onto operculum and branching broadly, the upper branch passing below eye to chin, the lower curving ventrally on head to chin; A green spot containing a small, vertically elongate, black spot behind eye; A narrow median dorsal green stripe on head continuing as a series of spots basally on dorsal fin; Dorsal fin of females with a large black spot anteriorly on soft portion, a smaller black spot posteriorly (lost in males), and blackish pigment on first two membranes of fin; Caudal fin with two large semicircular green bands, in addition to green posterior border.
Etymology
Halichoeres: from Greek, halio-, hali-, halo-, hal- = word-forming element meaning "salt, sea," a Greek combination form of hals (genitive halos) "a lump of salt, salt generally," in Homer, "the sea," + from Greek, choiros = pig. Referring to elongated conical tooth at each corner of mouth, pointed outwards and forwards, and usually protruding beyond the flesh of lips, which reminded Rüppell of the canine teeth of a boar; Here "hog of the sea or hogfish".
claudia: named in honor of the second author’s wife, also a marine biologist, for her continued support and help with lab work. The species name is treated as a noun in apposition.
Original description: Halichoeres claudia Randall & Rocha, 2009 - Type locality: outside barrier reef, 200 meters west of Tareu Pass, Moorea, Society Islands, Polynesia, depth: 21 meters.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Cocos-Keeling and Christmas islands, Indonesia, east to Line and Tuamotu islands, north to Philippines, south to New Caledonia.
Biology
Found solitary usually on outer slopes of reefs. It feeds primarily on small benthic crustaceans and mollusks. Distinct pairing. Males build dish shaped nest and guard eggs. Size at sex change may begin from 5.4 cm SL. This species is collected for the aquarium trade, and may be a locally important species.
Similar species
Halichoeres richmondi (Fowler & Bean 1928) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here) - Juveniles and females show the same lined coloration.
Halichoeres ornatissimus (Garrett, 1863) - Restricted to Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island. Halichoeres ornatissimus is distinguished from Halichoeres claudia by the green body stripes of adults being broken into a series of spots, by males losing the prominent middle black spot in the dorsal fin, by their attaining a larger size (116 mm standard length, compared to 92 mm for Halichoeres claudia), and by a 2 % mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence.
Last update: 7, April 2023
Claudia's wrasse, Ornamental Wrasse, Ornamented Wrasse, Ornate Wrasse, Christmas Wrasse,
Synonyme
Biochoeres claudia (Randall & Rocha, 2009)
--------------------------
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12; All dorsal and anal rays branched, the last to base; Pectoral fin rays: 13, upper 2 unbranched; Pelvic fin rays: I, 5; Principal caudal rays: 14, upper and lower ones unbranched; Upper procurrent caudal rays: 5-6 (usually: 6), posterior-most one segmented; Lower procurrent caudal rays: 5, posterior-most: 1 segmented; Lateral line scales: 28 (plus 1 pored scale on caudal-fin base); Median predorsal scales: 9; Near-vertical rows of scales on chest: 9; No scales on cheek or opercle; Gill rakers: 16-20; Brachiostegal rays: 5; vertebrae: 25. Body depth: 3.15-3.55 in SL; A pair of large projecting canine teeth anteriorly in each jaw, and a strong canine at corner of mouth; 9th dorsal spine longest: 2.5-2.65 in Head Length; Body moderately compressed, width: 2.15-2.5 (usually: 2.25) in Body Depth; Head length: 3.15-3.2 (usually: 3.2) in SL; Snout length: 2.8-3.2 (usually: 2.85) in Head Length; Orbit diameter: 3.95-5.25 (usually: 4.85); Interorbital space convex, least width: 3.7-4.05 (usually: 3.95) in Head Length; Caudal peduncle depth: 1.9-2.05 (usually: 2.05) in Head Length; Caudal peduncle length: 3.7-3.95 (usually: 3.85) in Head Length. Max. length: 8.8 cm SL (male) - 5.6 cm SL (female). Depth range: 1 - 35 m, usually: 1 - 24 m.
Color
Pink to orangish yellow, the body with seven green to bluish green stripes, the 1st, 4th, and 6th containing enlarged lighter green spots; 2nd and 3rd green stripes dotted, merging below posterior part of dorsal fin; 6th green stripe initially curving downward from pectoral fin base and continuing above anal fin to caudal fin base; 7th stripe curving across chest onto abdomen; First green stripe continuing anteriorly onto head above eye, ending narrowly on snout; Middle green stripes of body merging anteriorly onto operculum and branching broadly, the upper branch passing below eye to chin, the lower curving ventrally on head to chin; A green spot containing a small, vertically elongate, black spot behind eye; A narrow median dorsal green stripe on head continuing as a series of spots basally on dorsal fin; Dorsal fin of females with a large black spot anteriorly on soft portion, a smaller black spot posteriorly (lost in males), and blackish pigment on first two membranes of fin; Caudal fin with two large semicircular green bands, in addition to green posterior border.
Etymology
Halichoeres: from Greek, halio-, hali-, halo-, hal- = word-forming element meaning "salt, sea," a Greek combination form of hals (genitive halos) "a lump of salt, salt generally," in Homer, "the sea," + from Greek, choiros = pig. Referring to elongated conical tooth at each corner of mouth, pointed outwards and forwards, and usually protruding beyond the flesh of lips, which reminded Rüppell of the canine teeth of a boar; Here "hog of the sea or hogfish".
claudia: named in honor of the second author’s wife, also a marine biologist, for her continued support and help with lab work. The species name is treated as a noun in apposition.
Original description: Halichoeres claudia Randall & Rocha, 2009 - Type locality: outside barrier reef, 200 meters west of Tareu Pass, Moorea, Society Islands, Polynesia, depth: 21 meters.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Cocos-Keeling and Christmas islands, Indonesia, east to Line and Tuamotu islands, north to Philippines, south to New Caledonia.
Biology
Found solitary usually on outer slopes of reefs. It feeds primarily on small benthic crustaceans and mollusks. Distinct pairing. Males build dish shaped nest and guard eggs. Size at sex change may begin from 5.4 cm SL. This species is collected for the aquarium trade, and may be a locally important species.
Similar species
Halichoeres richmondi (Fowler & Bean 1928) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here) - Juveniles and females show the same lined coloration.
Halichoeres ornatissimus (Garrett, 1863) - Restricted to Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Island. Halichoeres ornatissimus is distinguished from Halichoeres claudia by the green body stripes of adults being broken into a series of spots, by males losing the prominent middle black spot in the dorsal fin, by their attaining a larger size (116 mm standard length, compared to 92 mm for Halichoeres claudia), and by a 2 % mitochondrial DNA sequence divergence.
Last update: 7, April 2023