Halichoeres poeyi

Family	Scientific Name	Author	Year	Common Name
Labridae	Halichoeres poeyi	(Steindachner)	1867	Blackear Wrasse

All Halichoeres Species: Dorsal-fin spines 9. Lateral line continuous and uninterrupted, though steeply curved below posterior portion of dorsal fin. Posterior canine present.

Halichoeres poeyi

Unique Characters: Lateral line continuous and uninterrupted, though steeply curved below posterior portion of dorsal fin. Posterior canine present. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 11 soft rays. Small individuals yellow-green with red-rimmed black spot behind eye. A small black spot at rear base of dorsal fin. Dark line at pectoral-fin base. Large fish dull green, the centers of scales with a dull orange-red spot; purplish red bands form a V-shape on caudal fin with reddish stripe in center of fin.

Similar Species:

Greenband Wrasse, Halichoeres bathyphilus

Greenband Wrasse, Halichoeres bathyphilus.Lateral line continuous and uninterrupted, though steeply curved below posterior portion of dorsal fin. Posterior canine present. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 11 soft rays. No spot behind eye. Blue-green spot above pectoral fin, sometimes divided; body colour light greenish tan dorsally and pale ventrally, with green-brown stripe from snout to end of caudal fin. Captured only in deep water (27-155 m).

Slippery Dick, Halichoeres bivittatus

Slippery Wrasse, Halichoeres bivittatus. Two canines on upper jaw anteriorly, but 4 on lower jaw. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 11 soft rays. Mostly shallow water (less than 60 m). No spot behind eye; no spot above pectoral fin; green stripe on snout absent. Two dark stripes running length of body (lower sometimes faint or lacking); a black spot just behind last dorsal-fin ray.

Painted Wrasse, Halichoeres caudalis

Painted Wrasse, Halichoeres caudalis. Two canines on upper jaw anteriorly, but 4 on lower jaw. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 11 soft rays. A dark spot immediately behind eye. Body blue-green above, pale blue below, the blue on each scale along midside surrounds an olive base. Dark green-blue spot behind eye; dorsal and anal fins pinkish with blue stripes; caudal fin striped. Young with tan body, 2 dusky streaks on side, area between streaks pale orange.

Yellowcheek Wrasse, Halichoeres cyanocephalus

Yellowcheek Wrasse, Halichoeres cyanocephalus. Two canines on upper jaw anteriorly, but 4 on lower jaw. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 12 soft rays (the only Halichoeres with 12 soft rays).Body yellow-green above with a broad, blue-black stripe on most of side, extending as a black wedge onto center of caudal fin; lower side blue-green; side of head bright yellow, dark blue below, dark stripe from eye up onto nape; caudal fin yellowish. Small fish blue with top of head, back and dorsal fin bright yellow.

Yellowhead Wrasse, Halichoeres garnoti

Yellowhead Wrasse, Halichoeres garnoti. Two canines on upper jaw anteriorly, but 4 on lower jaw. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 11 soft rays. Mostly shallow water (less than 60 m) No spot behind eye; no spot above pectoral fin, green stripe on snout absent. A single dark stripe or no stripe on body; black markings absent on or just behind dorsal fin. Black dots behind postocular black lines. Young without blotches but with median blue stripe; adults either with bar across body below middle of dorsal fin or with body nearly uniformly colored (somewhat darkened above).

Clown Wrasse, Halichoeres maculipinna

Clown Wrasse, Halichoeres maculipinna. Two canines anteriorly on each jaw. Black stripe on upper side of body, with thin yellow stripe above black band, white ventrally. Large males mostly red and green with prominent black spot on midbody.

Puddingwife, Halichoeres radiatus

Puddingwife, Halichoeres radiatus. Two canines on upper jaw anteriorly, but 4 on lower jaw. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 11 soft rays. Mostly shallow water (less than 60 m). No spot behind eye; no spot above pectoral fin; green stripe on snout absent; no black dots behind postocular lines; a single dark stripe or no stripe on body; black markings absent on or just behind dorsal fin. Young with large black blotches at base of dorsal fin and on caudal peduncle, this frequently persisting in larger fish. Adult coloration variable with blotchy or with bluish lines and dots but without dark band at midbody.