Animal Species:Violetline Maori Wrasse, Oxycheilinus digrammus (Lacepède, 1801)

The Violetline Maori Wrasse occurs in tropical marine waters. It can be recognised by its unique coloration.

Violetline Maori Wrasse at Charlie's Reef, Fiji

Violetline Maori Wrasse at Charlie's Reef, Fiji
David & Leanne Atkinson © David & Leanne Atkinson

Alternative Name/s

Cheeklined Maori Wrasse

Identification

The Violetline Maori Wrasse can be recognised by its colouration. It is grey-brown to green or red with an orange-red to pinkish mark on each scale. There are orange to pink lines above the eye and about eight purplish to pink lines crossing the cheek.

Size range

The species grows to 30 cm in length.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific. In Australia it is known from the offshore islands of north-western Australia and from the entire length of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Oxycheilinus digrammus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Violetline Maori Wrasse specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
digrammus
Genus:
Oxycheilinus
Family:
Labridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
  3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
  4. Westneat, M.W., 2001 Labridae. Wrasses (also, hogfishes, razorfishes, corises and tuskfishes) in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 6. Bony Fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine crocodiles, sea turtles, sea snakes and marine mammals. FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-v, 3381-4218.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Violetline Maori Wrasse, Oxycheilinus digrammus, Labridae, grey, brown, pink, red, green, orange, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, countershaded, coral reef, marine, adult, long face,