Halichoeres poeyi

FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
LabridaeHalichoeres poeyi(Steindachner)1867Blackear Wrasse

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: None.

Yellowcheek Wrasse Halichoeres cyanocephalus

Painted Wrasse Halichoeres caudalis

Greenband Wrasse Halichoeres bathyphilus

Halichoeres cyanocephalus
Yellowcheek Wrasse – Halichoeres cyanocephalus
Halichoeres caudalis
Painted Wrasse – Halichoeres caudalis

Yellowcheek Wrasse Halichoeres cyanocephalus. Lateral line continuous and uninterrupted, though steeply curved below posterior portion of dorsal fin. Posterior canine present. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 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.

Painted Wrasse Halichoeres caudalis. 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. A dark green-blue spot immediately behind eye. Body blue-green above, pale blue below, the blue on each scale along midside surrounds an olive base; 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.

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

Yellowhead Wrasse Halichoeres garnoti

Puddingwife Halichoeres radiatus

Halichoeres bivittatus
Slippery Dick – Halichoeres bivittatus
Halichoeres garnoti
Yellowhead Wrasse – Halichoeres garnoti
Halichoeres radiatus
Puddingwife – Halichoeres radiatus

Slippery Dick Halichoeres bivittatus. 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. No spot above pectoral fin, green stripe on snout absent, mostly shallow water (less than 60 m). Two dark stripes running length of body (lower sometimes faint or lacking) a black spot just behind last dorsal-fin ray.

Yellowhead Wrasse Halichoeres garnoti. 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. No spot above pectoral fin, green stripe on snout absent. Mostly shallow water (less than 60 m). 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).

Puddingwife Halichoeres radiatus. 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. No spot above pectoral fin, green stripe on snout absent. Mostly shallow water (less than 60 m). A single dark stripe or no stripe on body; black markings absent on or just behind dorsal fin. No black dots behind postocular lines. 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.

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