Rosy Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The Rosy Wrasse is a temperate reef fish found in southern Australia, ranging from Shark Bay in Western Australia across to Sydney in New South Wales, including Tasmania.
• Males are larger and brightly coloured, with a rich reddish-pink body and a yellow tail, while females are more subdued, usually pinkish-brown with a pale underside.
• Juveniles look quite different, often olive or brownish with faint spots or stripes that help them stay camouflaged in kelp beds and rocky reef habitats.
• They feed mainly on small crustaceans such as shrimps, crabs, and amphipods, but will also take worms, molluscs, and occasionally tiny fish.
• Strong jaws and pointed teeth make them effective hunters, able to pry small animals from algae and rock crevices.
• Rosy Wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, which means they begin life as females and some later change sex to become dominant males.
• They are highly territorial, and males patrol and defend their patch of reef from rivals, especially during the breeding season.
• Breeding takes place in the warmer summer months. Males perform colourful courtship displays to attract females, and after spawning, the male guards the fertilised eggs until they hatch.
• In the wild, Rosy Wrasses live for about 5 to 8 years, although many are preyed upon before reaching their maximum age.
• They play an important role in southern reef ecosystems by helping to control populations of small invertebrates that live among kelp and seagrass.
• Divers and snorkellers often see them in kelp forests and rocky reefs, where their rosy colours stand out vividly against the green-brown seaweed background.