Thalassoma hardwicke
Sixbarred Wrasse
©Mark Shepherd: Sixbar Wrasse at Lizard Island
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Perciformes
Family
Labridae
Genus
Thalassoma
Species
Thalassoma hardwicke
Colours
Distinguishing features
Distinguishing features still need to be specified.
Size
- Up to 20 cm (Total Length)
Depth range
- From 0 m to 15 m
Synonyms
Interesting facts
-
If this fish has something that is too big to swallow it will swim into a particularly rough rock or smash the food into it so it breaks into smaller chunks. This has been called ‘anvil behaviour’ and it is the beginnings of tool use or if you like, the first step towards space travel. It also flutters its fins when courting which is very definitely a hip-hop dance move.
Not only that, the other day one of these wrasse swam up to me fearlessly and looked me in the eye and I am sure it was thinking “when is the next big extinction going to come, we are ready to inherit the Earth”. Guardian: Pascal Espinosa
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Occurs in shallow lagoon and seaward reefs, slopes and along drop-offs to moderate depths (FishBase).
