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

Labre léopard à opercule taché, Black leopard wrasse, Ear-spot wrasse, Kuiter's leopard-wrasse, Kuiter's wrasse, 基氏大咽齒魚, 基氏大咽齿鱼,

Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12 (usually: 12); Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11-12; Pectoral fin rays: 12; Lateral line scales: 27, the anterior scales: 1-3 (usually: 2) pores. Teeth spatulate (except canine at corner of mouth); Second pair of enlarged teeth at front of upper jaw subtruncate, serving of buttress front pair. Caudal peduncle short: 2.3-2.5 in least depth; Dorsal spine progressively longer. Max. length: 10.0 cm TL. Depth range: 5 - 55 m, usually: 10 - 35 m.

Color
A small pale orangy body with a pale bluish spot on each scale, a large black blue-rimmed spot on the gill cover, and a small blackish spot behind the eye.

Etymology
Macropharyngodon: from Greek, makros = great + from Greek, pharynx = pharynx + from Greek, odous = teeth. Referring to posterior canine teeth on upper jaw.
Kuitery: the author (Randall) first saw a juvenile (about 25-30 mm TL) in an aquarium at the Kuiter residence in Sydney. It was recognized as a Macropharyngodon, but the species was unknown. Mr. Kuiter kindly reared the fish to adult size and shipped it alive to the Bishop Museum where it was killed, photographed, and preserved as the holotype. The species is named in honor of Mr. Kuiter.
Original description: Macropharyngodon kuiteri Randall, 1978 - Type locality: New South Wales, Seal Rocks (31°26'S, 152°32'E) Australia, 10 m, hand net, R. H. Kuiter, 13 January 1973; Reared to 60.5 mm in Kuiter's aquarium; Preserved 26 February 1974.

Distribution
Southwestern Pacific: New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Tonga and to the southern Great Barrier Reef, North to New South Wales (Australia) and east to Chesterfield Bank, Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs.

Biology
Occurs inshore. Found in areas of mixed sand, rubble, and algae. It feeds on micro-zoobenthos. This species is collected for the aquarium trade.

Last update: 17, March 2023