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Painted Rainbow Wrasse
Suezichthys arquatus Russell, 1985
A Painted Rainbow Wrasse at a depth of 20m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, June 1997. View larger image.
A juvenile Painted Rainbow Wrasse at a depth of 22m, North Solitary Island, New South Wales, January 2003. View larger image.
Male Painted Rainbow Wrasse can be recognised by their colour pattern. They have blue stripes and dots on the body, red dorsal and anal fins, and a diagonal yellow line across the upper part of the caudal fin.
Females and juveniles have pearly spots along the scale rows. They have dark spots at the front and rear of the dorsal fin and on the caudal fin base.
This species grows to 16cm in length.
It occurs in a range of habitats from shallow rocky reefs to offshore.
The Painted Rainbow Wrasse is recorded from temperate marine waters of the south-west Pacific.
In Australia is it is known from southern Queensland to southern New South Wales.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Further reading
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2002. Fairy and Rainbow Wrasses and their Relatives. A Comprehensive Guide to Selected Labroids. TMC Publishing. Pp. 208.
