Ringtail Maori Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The Ringtail Maori Wrasse is widely distributed across Australia’s coastal waters. Including Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and down through New South Wales.
• These fishes are characterised by their distinctive colour patterns, often displaying a variety of hues including blue, green, and pink, with intricate patterns resembling those seen in Maori art, hence the name. They have a single black band running from the top of the head, through the eye, to the bottom of the face.
• They are omnivores and feed on a variety of marine invertebrates such as molluscs, crustaceans, and sea urchins. They are also known to consume fish eggs and small fish when available.
• Ringtail Maori Wrasses use their vibrant coloration and patterns not only for mating displays but also for threat avoidance. When threatened, they can quickly change their colours to confuse predators, providing them an opportunity to escape.
• Their mating season occurs during the warmer months, generally from October to March. During this time, males display vibrant colorations to attract females and often engage in aggressive displays to maintain territories.
• Like many wrasses, Ringtail Maori Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they have the ability to change their sex from female to male during their lifecycle. This usually happens when there is a lack of males in their vicinity.
• Estimated lifespan is between 15 – 20 years.