Find a Fish
Redbreasted Maori Wrasse
Cheilinus fasciatus (Bloch, 1791)
A Redbreasted Maori Wrasse at "Temple of Doom", Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, December 2000. View larger image.
The Redbreasted Maori Wrasse can be recognised by its distinctive colouration. The body has six to seven white vertical bars on a red-brown background. The area around the pectoral fin is yellow to orange. The bodies of large males are almost black, with white vertical bars and red colouration on the front of the body and operculum.
This species grows to 36cm in length. It has dorsal and anal fins that are pointed posteriorly.
The Redbreasted Maori Wrasse is found throughout the tropical Indo-west Pacific. In Australia it is recorded off north-western Western Australia and on the Great Barrier Reef and offshore islands of Queensland.
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
