Tripletail Wrasse (species: Cheilinus trilobatus) in Cook Islands (Gaia Guide)
Cook Islands > Animalia > Vertebrata > Actinopterygii > Perciformes > Cheilinus trilobatus (gallery)
Cheilinus trilobatus
Tripletail Wrasse


©David Witherall and Manon Fourriere: Tripletail Wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus), Upolu Reef

©Andy: Tripletail Maori Wrasse at Lizard Island

©John Turnbull: Tripletail Wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus) in Ningaloo Marine Park

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Labridae
Genus Cheilinus
Species Cheilinus trilobatus

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Distinguishing features

Distinguishing features still need to be specified.

Size

  • Up to 45 cm (Total Length)

Depth range

  • From 1 m to 30 m

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Adults inhabit lagoon and seaward reefs. They are relatively common along shallow reef margins with good coral cover. Juveniles are secretive, hiding on algae reefs and usually around stinging hydrozoans (FishBase).

Diet

Feed mainly on shelled benthic invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans, but occasionally take fishes. (Fishbase)

Web resources

References

  • Bellwood, D.R. and P.C. Wainwright (2001). Locomotion in labrid fishes: implications for habitat use and cross-shelf biogeography on the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Reefs, 20: 139-150. LIRS catalog number 787.
  • Eros, C.M. (1996). Acoustic repertoire in the territorial and courtship behaviour of Stegastes apicalis (Pomacentridae), M.Sc. thesis, James Cook University, Townsville. LIRS catalog number 497.
  • Green, A.L. (1996). Spatial, temporal and ontogenetic patterns of habitat use by coral reef fishes (Family Labridae), Marine Ecology Progress Series, 133: 1-11. LIRS catalog number 457.
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