Blacktail Wrasse, Anampses melanurus (Bleeker, 1857)
It has also been called the New Guinea Wrasse and White-spotted Wrasse.
Click to enlarge image
© Rudie Kuiter
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Anampses
- Species
- melanurus
- Family
- Labridae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- It grows to about 12 cm in length.
Introduction
The Blacktail Wrasse is black with white spots and a yellow bar across the basal region of the caudal fin. It grows to about 12 cm and occurs throughout the tropical Indo-West and Central Pacific.
Identification
The Blacktail Wrasse is a small fish that can be recognised by its colouration. It is black with white spots and a yellow bar across the basal region of the caudal fin.
Habitat
Blacktail Wrasse occurs in coral reef and inshore waters.
Distribution
This species occurs throughout the tropical Indo-West and Central Pacific.
In Australia it has been recorded from the offshore reefs of north-western Australia. The fish in the image however, was photographed in northern New South Wales. This is the first record of the species on the east coast of Australia.
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.
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
