Knife Wrasse (species: Cymolutes praetextatus) in Cook Islands (Gaia Guide)
Cook Islands > Animalia > Vertebrata > Actinopterygii > Perciformes > Cymolutes praetextatus (gallery)
Cymolutes praetextatus
Knife Wrasse


©Christophe Cadet / Wikimedia Commons: Knife Wrasse (Cymolutes praetextatus)

©John E. Randall: Knife Wrasse (Cymolutes praetextatus)

©John Sear

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Labridae
Genus Cymolutes
Species Cymolutes praetextatus

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Colours

              

Distinguishing features

Steep head profile; pale with faint bars on sides and a white stripe running along back above a broad, darker stripe (which may be yellow or absent according to Allen et al, 2003); dives into sand when disturbed.

Size

  • Up to 20 cm (Standard Length)

Depth range

  • From 0 m to 6 m

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Inhabits reef flats and shallow lagoons, in sandy, current-swept areas with rubble and weed (FishBase).

Behaviour

Can dive into the sand with the approach of danger (FishBase).

Web resources

References

  • Caley, M.J. (1991). Mechanisms of coexistence in communities of coral-reef fishes, Ph.D. thesis, University of Sydney. LIRS catalog number 307.
  • Caley, M.J. (1995). Reef fish community structure and dynamics: in interaction between local and larger-scale processes? Marine Ecology Progress Series, 129: 19-29. LIRS catalog number 448.
  • Caley, M.J. and J. St John (1996). Refuge availability structures assemblages of tropical reef fishes, Journal of Animal Ecology, 65: 414-428. LIRS catalog number 458.
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