©derrickcruz: First confirmed sighting of this species in Sydney Harbour
©Kris McCracken: Purple Wrasse (Notolabrus fucicola),Tinderbox Marine Nature Reserve, Tasmania, Australia
Colours
Distinguishing features
It is a moderately deep-bodied fish of variable colouring, young being reddish-brown mottled with green and orange, whilst adults are green-brown tinged with purple with indistinct yellowish vertical bars on the body and fins. (Wikipedia)
Size
- Up to 60 cm (Total Length)
Weight
- Up to 5 kg
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
It is native to the eastern Indian Ocean, off eastern Australia and all around New Zealand.
It is found on rocky, weedy reef areas. (Wikipedia)
Diet
They are generalist predators with powerful canine teeth that enable them to remove chitons, limpets, and barnacles from rocks. They can also crush and eat mollusks, crabs, and sea urchins. Size-specific changes in their diets occur: Small fish (100–180 mm) eat mostly amphipods and isopods, whereas larger fish (> 180 mm) eat mainly bivalves, crabs, and gastropods. (Wikipedia)
