The Bluehead Wrasse changes colour as it grows. Juveniles and adults look very different.
The Bluehead Wrasse is an elongate species with a small mouth. There is a pair of canines at the front of both jaws. These are followed posteriorly by progressively smaller conical teeth. The caudal fin is truncate to emarginate becoming lunate in older males.
Initial phase fish are greenish to brownish above, and white below. They have a broad dark stripe along the side of the body. Terminal phase males have a bluish head followed posteriorly by a broad pale band in the pectoral region. The body is reddish with vertical green lines.
The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West and Central Pacific.
In Australia it is known from south-western to north-western Western Australia, and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, south to southern New South Wales.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Feeding and diet
It eats zooplankton.
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.