HALICHOERES MARGARITACEUS - (VALENCIENNES, 1839)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Labriformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Halichoeres (Genus)
Labre de houle, Astrolabe wrasse, Pearl-spotted wrasse, Pearly wrasse, Pink-belly wrasse, Reef-flat wrasse, Weedy surge wrasse, Saddled rainbowfish, Kirschflecken-Junker, Akanijibera, アカニジベラ, 斑点海猪鱼, 虹彩海豬魚,
Synonymes
Halichoeres daedalma (Jordan & Seale, 1906)
Halichoeres margariaceus (Valenciennes, 1839)
Halichoeres margaritaceous (Valenciennes, 1839)
Halichoeres nafae (Tanaka, 1908)
Julis harloffii (Bleeker, 1847)
Julis margaritaceus (Valenciennes, 1839)
Julis poecila (Lay & Bennett, 1839)
Platyglossus equinus (De Vis, 1885)
Platyglossus opercularis (Günther, 1862)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11; Pectoral fin rays: 13; Lateral line scales: 27, the anterior scales with 13 pores; Anterior pair of teeth of upper jaw with enlarged canines; Second pair moderaltely enlarged and recurved; Lower jaw with one pair of anterior canines. Max. length: 12.5 cm SL. Depth range: 0 - 15 m.
Color
Females olivaceous on back, the scale edges dark brown, pale ventrally, with whitish blotches of unequal size and a large pink area posteriorly on the abdomen; A black spot on opercular flap, small one behind eye, one at front of dorsal fin and a large one rimmed in yellow or blue in middle of fin; No black spot at upper base of pectoral fins.
Males green with orange-red spots, some linked to form irregular markings, the white blotches and large pink area on abdomen lost, and the black spots lost or reduced. Males are distinguished by different cheek patterns.
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".
margaritaceus: from Greek, margarites = a pearl + from Latin suffix, -aceus = of or pertaining to. Referring to pearly white blotches on lower sides of intermediate-phase females; Valenciennes also mentioned a pearly white line under the eye.
Original description: Julis margaritaceus Valenciennes, 1839 - Type locality: Vanikoro Island, Santa Cruz Islands, southwestern Pacific.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Christmas and Cocos-Keeling islands and Indonesia, east to Wake Atoll and Pitcairn Group, north to southern Japan, south to northwestern Australia, New South Wales (Australia), New Caledonia, Lord Howe, Norfolk and Kermadec islands, Tonga and Gambier Islands.
Biology
Inhabits shallow reefs and rocky shores, usually in weedy areas exposed to surge. Feeds on benthic crustaceans, mollusks, polychaetes, forams, fishes, and fish eggs. One of several similar species that have near identical juvenile and female stages. Hermaphrodite, distinct pairing during breeding. Aquarium fish.
Similar species
Halichoeres nebulosus (Valenciennes, 1839) - Reported from New Caledonia. Differs from Halichoeres margaritaceus, in having the band across the cheek slightly rising posteriorly vs, descending posteriorly in Halichoeres nebulosus.
Last update: 11, April 2023
Labre de houle, Astrolabe wrasse, Pearl-spotted wrasse, Pearly wrasse, Pink-belly wrasse, Reef-flat wrasse, Weedy surge wrasse, Saddled rainbowfish, Kirschflecken-Junker, Akanijibera, アカニジベラ, 斑点海猪鱼, 虹彩海豬魚,
Synonymes
Halichoeres daedalma (Jordan & Seale, 1906)
Halichoeres margariaceus (Valenciennes, 1839)
Halichoeres margaritaceous (Valenciennes, 1839)
Halichoeres nafae (Tanaka, 1908)
Julis harloffii (Bleeker, 1847)
Julis margaritaceus (Valenciennes, 1839)
Julis poecila (Lay & Bennett, 1839)
Platyglossus equinus (De Vis, 1885)
Platyglossus opercularis (Günther, 1862)
------------------------
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11; Pectoral fin rays: 13; Lateral line scales: 27, the anterior scales with 13 pores; Anterior pair of teeth of upper jaw with enlarged canines; Second pair moderaltely enlarged and recurved; Lower jaw with one pair of anterior canines. Max. length: 12.5 cm SL. Depth range: 0 - 15 m.
Color
Females olivaceous on back, the scale edges dark brown, pale ventrally, with whitish blotches of unequal size and a large pink area posteriorly on the abdomen; A black spot on opercular flap, small one behind eye, one at front of dorsal fin and a large one rimmed in yellow or blue in middle of fin; No black spot at upper base of pectoral fins.
Males green with orange-red spots, some linked to form irregular markings, the white blotches and large pink area on abdomen lost, and the black spots lost or reduced. Males are distinguished by different cheek patterns.
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".
margaritaceus: from Greek, margarites = a pearl + from Latin suffix, -aceus = of or pertaining to. Referring to pearly white blotches on lower sides of intermediate-phase females; Valenciennes also mentioned a pearly white line under the eye.
Original description: Julis margaritaceus Valenciennes, 1839 - Type locality: Vanikoro Island, Santa Cruz Islands, southwestern Pacific.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Christmas and Cocos-Keeling islands and Indonesia, east to Wake Atoll and Pitcairn Group, north to southern Japan, south to northwestern Australia, New South Wales (Australia), New Caledonia, Lord Howe, Norfolk and Kermadec islands, Tonga and Gambier Islands.
Biology
Inhabits shallow reefs and rocky shores, usually in weedy areas exposed to surge. Feeds on benthic crustaceans, mollusks, polychaetes, forams, fishes, and fish eggs. One of several similar species that have near identical juvenile and female stages. Hermaphrodite, distinct pairing during breeding. Aquarium fish.
Similar species
Halichoeres nebulosus (Valenciennes, 1839) - Reported from New Caledonia. Differs from Halichoeres margaritaceus, in having the band across the cheek slightly rising posteriorly vs, descending posteriorly in Halichoeres nebulosus.
Last update: 11, April 2023