Thalassoma jansenii
Jansen's Wrasse
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Perciformes
Family
Labridae
Genus
Thalassoma
Species
Thalassoma jansenii
Colours
Distinguishing features
Distinguishing features still need to be specified.
Size
- Up to 20 cm (Total Length)
Depth range
- From 1 m to 15 m
Synonyms
Interesting facts
-
Social Wrasse are one of the more intelligent fish on the reef; they not only have good memories, they can learn and they teach each other different feeding strategies, cleaning behaviour, eating jellyfish gonads, targeting naïve Damselfish, using rocks to smash open clams and sea urchins. They can form mental maps and teach each other the route to different food sources. They not only develop a social hierarchy, they can deduce who is more dominant without conflict (if fish A beat up B and B beat up C then fish A is the king). They can deduce danger by watching other fish (if the smell or sight of something scares a more experienced fish, then they will avoid it as well). They will form alliances, recognising good hunting partners and sometimes these alliances will join forces to overthrow the dominant male.
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Occurs in exposed crests of seaward and lagoon reefs, usually rock-based (FishBase).
