Black Leopard Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The Black Leopard Wrasse, is a beautifully patterned reef wrasse found across the tropical Indo-Pacific, including northern Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines.
• Adults have a dark brown to black base colour covered with numerous white or bluish spots across the entire body and fins, giving them their “black leopard” appearance.
• Juveniles are paler, usually reddish-brown with distinct white spots arranged in neat rows, which gradually transition into the more intricate adult pattern as they mature.
• Males and females differ, with males displaying brighter bluish spots and often more iridescent hues during courtship, while females retain darker, more subdued colours.
• Like many wrasses, this species is protogynous hermaphroditic — individuals start life as females, with some later transforming into dominant males.
• The Black Leopard Wrasse feeds primarily on small benthic invertebrates such as worms, tiny snails, foraminifera, and crustaceans, which it picks from sandy and rubble substrates.
• It uses its extendable jaws and sharp teeth to probe into sand and rubble to extract hidden prey items.
• This species is diurnal and buries itself in sand at night or when threatened, a common behaviour among leopard wrasses that helps avoid predators.
• Spawning typically occurs in small groups at dusk, with males performing active display swims to attract females. The fertilised eggs are pelagic, drifting in open water until hatching.
• The lifespan is estimated at 5–7 years in the wild, although individuals may live longer under stable captive conditions when properly cared for.
• Predators include larger reef carnivores such as groupers, snappers, and moray eels, though their burying behaviour provides significant protection.
• The species name negrosensis comes from Negros Island in the Philippines, where it was first scientifically described.