Ring Slender Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The Ring Slender Wrasse, is a long, torpedo-shaped wrasse found across the tropical Indo-Pacific. In Australia it occurs along the northern coast from Western Australia to Queensland, including the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea.
• Males are especially eye-catching, with a bluish-green body marked by a series of bright yellow to orange “ring” patterns along the sides and a blue head with yellow bands.
• Females and juveniles look completely different: they are pale green to brown with dark stripes running lengthwise along the body, helping them blend into sandy reef habitats.
• The transformation from female to male includes a dramatic change in colour and patterning, making this one of the most visually striking examples of wrasse sexual dimorphism.
• Like many wrasses, the Ring Slender Wrasse is a protogynous hermaphrodite, beginning life as a female before some transition to male dominance.
• They are active daytime hunters that swim quickly over sandy flats and rubble zones, feeding on crabs, shrimps, molluscs, worms, brittle stars, and sea urchins.
• Their long body and speed make them excellent open-water foragers, unlike many smaller wrasses that stick close to coral heads.
• At night they retreat into reef crevices for safety, often lying motionless until morning.
• Spawning occurs in pairs, usually at dusk, when males display their brilliant colours to attract females. The eggs are released into the open water and drift with the currents.
• Juveniles are often found in very shallow sandy lagoons, hugging the bottom and using their striped pattern to camouflage against predators.
• Ring Slender Wrasses can live for 8–10 years in the wild, with the largest males often being the oldest and most dominant individuals on the reef.