As juveniles they sport brown, black, and white snout to tail stripes, but will begin the color change when they are around two and a half inches. As adults, they typically get to be around six to eight inches, but can get larger, with the biggest coming in at around eleven inches. They inhabit rubbly areas, lagoons, and reefs, where they spend their days in search of crustaceans and other invertebrates, as well as fish eggs and limu. It has been reported that they will engage in cleaning behavior, plucking ectoparasites off of other fish for a quick meal. It is believed they all begin life as females, with some of them going through sex reversal, becoming males. The largest are known as supermales, and show a white streak behind the orange saddle. At night, saddle wrasses may literally bury their heads in the sand, snuggling in for a good night's sleep.
4 Comments
Alohilani
7/14/2014 04:55:36 am
A.k.a. Hinālea
Reply
Jeanne
7/14/2014 06:54:53 pm
Thanks for adding that Alohilani!
Reply
Peter
9/3/2014 04:53:48 pm
I was in Hawaii in July 2014 and was repeatedly bitten at Waikiki by small fish about 3" long.
Reply
Darren Won
7/16/2019 09:11:06 pm
I could be wrong but the main photo you used for the Saddle Wrasse looks like a hybrid. It looks like it was taken at the Waikiki Aquarium a few years ago when they had the hybrid on display. Common Saddle Wrasses don't have that Orange color pattern on their face.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
welcomes you to visit with the all the wonderful flora and fauna that we share this lovely aina with. Categories
All
Archives
October 2014
|