TUBELIP WRASSE
Labrichthys unilineatus
(Guichenot, 1847) Dorsal rays IX,11-12; anal rays III,10-11 (rarely 11); pectoral rays 14-15 (rarely 14); lateral line continuous, deflected downward below rear of dorsal fin, the pored scales 25-27; head fully scaled; lips thick and fleshy, forming a tube when mouth closed; front of upper jaw with 2 pairs of incurved canine teeth, a large canine tooth posteriorly, but no teeth between; lower jaw with a single pair of anterior canines, followed by 3-5 small teeth; body depth 2.6-3.2 in standard length; caudal fin strongly rounded; pelvic fins of males very long; females yellowish brown with blue longitudinal lines following scale centers; mouth yellow; males dark olive with blue longitudinal lines on body, a broad yellow bar in pectoral region (sometimes faint), and a blue reticulum on head; juveniles dark brown with 2 bluish white lines, one midlateral and one ventral; larger juveniles lose the lower line, and the lateral one becomes yellow. East coast of Africa to Samoa Islands and islands of Micronesia (type locality, Guam); southern Japan to Great Barrier Reef, Lord Howe Island, and New Caledonia; occurs in sheltered, coral-rich habitats; feeds on coral polyps. Largest examined, 17.5 cm. Only 1 species in genus; Labrichthys cyanotaenia Bleeker is a synonym.

NameTubelip wrasse 

Max Size17.5 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 2334)

Environmentreef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 20 m

Climatetropical; 20°N - 21°S

DistributionIndo-Pacific: East Africa to Micronesia and Samoa.

MorphologyDorsal spines(total): 9; Dorsal soft rays(total): 11-12; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 10-11. Color in life: juveniles brown with 2 bluish white stripes on body, the lateral stripe disappearing with increase in size; female yellowish brown, stripes dull and faint; male color more intensified and bright than female color, a large yellow area beneath and above the pectoral fin base. Yellow lips thick and fleshy, forming a short tube when mouth is closed. Head entirely scaled except for sheath over base of upper lip, preorbital, and chin. Lacks teeth in the upper jaw between the two anterior pairs of canines and the large canine in each corner (Ref. 1602).

BiologyInhabits shallow lagoon and semi-protected seaward reefs with high coral cover (Ref. 9710). Found near branching corals and feeds on its coral polyps, particularly staghorn Acropora (Ref. 9823).

Fishbase Credit - Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2005.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (06/2005).

Labrichthys unilineatus

Species (Labrichthys unilineatus) 7

Genus (Labrichthys) 7

Family (Labridae) 841

Location (Anilao) 97

Labrichthys unilineatus

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