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Narrow-banded Wrasse
Hologymnosus doliatus (Lacepède, 1801)
A 15cm long Narrow-banded Wrasse at a depth of 22m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, June 2003. View larger image.
The Narrow-banded Wrasse is an elongate fish that can be recognised by its colouration. Small juveniles are white with three orange-red stripes along the body.
Initial phase individuals, like that in the upper image, are blue, green or grey with 20-23 orange bars. They have a blue-black spot posteriorly on the operculum.
Terminal phase fish are blue-green to light red with lavender bars, and a pale region behind the pectoral fin. The head is blue to green with orange banding.
The Narrow-banded Wrasse grows to 40cm in length.
This species lives primarily in areas of coral reef. It is found throughout much of the tropical Indo-West Pacific.
In Australia it is know from north-western Western Australia and from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
The Narrow-banded Wrasse is also known as the Red-lined Slender Wrasse and the Pastel Ringwrasse.
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- 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.
