Western King Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The Western King Wrasse is endemic to Australia, primarily occurring in Western Australia.
• Juveniles are brightly patterned with white bodies and distinct red-orange bands, often with a dark spot on the dorsal fin, making them look very different from adults.
• Adult males (terminal phase) are greenish to bluish with yellow patches on the sides and darker markings near the head, while females and initial-phase fish are usually reddish to brown with less vivid patterning.
• This dramatic change in appearance between juveniles, females, and males is an example of sexual dimorphism, common in wrasses.
• The species is a protogynous hermaphrodite: all individuals start as females, with some transforming into males as they grow larger and more dominant.
• They feed mainly on benthic invertebrates, including crabs, molluscs, sea urchins, brittle stars, and worms, which they capture using their strong jaws and teeth.
• Western King Wrasses are often observed flipping rocks or shells to uncover hidden prey, an impressive foraging behaviour also seen in tuskfishes.
• They are diurnal and spend most of the day actively patrolling rocky reefs and seagrass beds, while at night they shelter in crevices or bury in sand.
• Spawning occurs during the warmer months, with males displaying brighter colours and defending territories to court females.
• Their lifespan is thought to be around 10 years.
• Predators include larger reef fishes, sharks, and seals in southern waters.
• They play an ecological role by controlling invertebrate populations and recycling nutrients back into reef systems.
• Divers and snorkellers often encounter them around rocky reefs, kelp forests, and seagrass beds, where their size and bold movements make them easy to spot.