Crimsonband Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The Crimsonband Wrasse is a species of marine fish that is found along the southern coast of Australia, including Queensland to Tasmania.
• The Crimsonband Wrasse has a slender, elongated body shape with a pointed snout and large eyes. Its body is covered in small, smooth scales, and its fins are rounded and pointed.
• Males of the species have a vibrant crimson-red band that runs horizontally along the upper part of their body, from their head to their tail. The band is typically bordered by a thin blue line above and below it. The rest of the male’s body is usually greenish-blue or brown, with small white or yellow spots scattered over the fins and body. In contrast, females are generally pale yellow or pink in colour, with faint horizontal lines on their body, and lack the distinct crimson band that males have.
• They are a carnivorous fish that feeds primarily on small invertebrates such as crustaceans, molluscs, and worms.
• They are protogynous hermaphrodites, with some females transforming into males when a dominant male dies or leaves the breeding population.
• The Crimsonband Wrasse breeds from September to March in southern hemisphere, with males displaying their crimson band to attract females for mating. During courtship, the male leads the female to a crevice or cave on the reef, and deposits sperm into the female’s body cavity to fertilise her eggs.
• Estimated lifespan is up to 25 years.