TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)

Family: Labridae (Wrasses)

Genus/species: Cirrhilabrus exquisitus

Specimen below is a male

ExquisitefairywrasseCirrhilabrusexquisitusIMG_0091

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Body shape is fusiform. Mouth is terminal.  Post-juvenile initial phase to 7 cm and colored shades of brown; large black spot on base of upper tail. Terminal phase individuals colored shades of green, bright red margins on dorsal and anal fins, narrow blue stripe from mid-body to tail, large black spot on base of upper tail, two or three blue line marks on head.  Maximum length 12cm (4.75 inches)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: East Africa to Tuamotus, north to Izus, southern Japan and south to Great BarrierReef, Australia over rubble or low patch reefs in areas of current, also on reef edges and near rubble zones in 5–35 m. (16-115 feet)

DIET IN THE WILD: Zooplankton in the water column, well above the substrate.

CONSERVATION: Data deficient (DD) Philippine Coral Reef PR04

References

WordPress shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1eS

flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/4563757962/in/set-72157608208133134/

fishbase  http://www.fishbase.de/summary/Cirrhilabrus-exquistius.html

EOL  http://eol.org/pages/357163/details

Taken on January 8, 2009, 3-20-14