Distribution: Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific. Protrusiblemouth. Most jaw teeth with gaps between them; teeth usually jutting outward. Dorsal fin 8-21 spines (usually less than15), 6-21 soft rays. Analfin 4-6 spines (often 3), 7-18 soft rays. Cycloid scales, generally large to moderate, 25-80 along the side (may be small and over 100 if small. Lateral lineinterrupted or continuous.Vertebrae 23-42. Snoutelongated in the genus Gomphosus. Size, shape and color very diversified. Most species are sand burrowers; carnivores on benthicinvertebrates; also planktivores, and some small species remove ectoparasites of larger fishes. Most species change color and sex with growth, from an initial phase (IP) of both males and females, the latter able to change sex into an often brilliantly coloredterminal malephase (TP). Males dominate several females; all Indo-Pacific species are pelagic spawners. Most species do well in aquaria, and young Coris are particularly popular. Maximum length about 2.3 m, many are less than 15 cm, the shortest being 4.5 cm. Medium to large species are important food fishes.
The family Labridae belongs to the ClassActinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 60 genera and 500 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Many members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of
this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adultfish in this family is labriform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the Paleoceneepoch of the Tertiaryperiod.Etymology of this family name: Latin, labrum = furious
Indo-West Pacific: disjunct distribution including one area from the western Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, and a second area including Hawaii and southern Polynesia, Line Islands to Pitcairn and west to Samoa.
Range and Population
Indo-West Pacific: disjunct distribution including one area from the western Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, and a second area including Hawaii and southern Polynesia, Line Islands to Pitcairn and west to Samoa.
Occurs on deep reef slopes rich with invertebrates such as sponges and seawhips, but young adults are occasionally seen much shallower[1]. May be found at depths of 8 to 160 meters.
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