General Description
Body with broad brownish, white and yellow stripes along sides and distinctive blue lines and 'scribbles' on head. Females and juveniles reddish-orange above, white along mid-sides and yellowish-brown below. Males brownish-orange above, yellowish-brown below, with an irregular black stripe below the white mid-lateral stripe, and blue spots on scale margins. Up to 40 cm long (head to tail tip).
Biology
Like many other members of the family Labridae, Maori Wrasse are capable of changing sex from female to male as they mature. Their name is derived from the tattoo-like markings around the face of adults. They are found on rocky reefs in habitats ranging from shallow estuaries to deeper offshore reefs.
Distribution
Southern Australia.
Habitat
Rocky reefs, to depth of 30 m.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Body long, slender, broad brownish, white and yellow stripes on sides, blue lines and 'scribbles' on head.
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Habitats
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Diet
Carnivore
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Diet Categories
Invertebrates
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Endemicity
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Commercial
Yes
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Least Concern
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Depths
Shallow (1-30 m)
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Water Column Locations
On or near seafloor
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
(Valenciennes, 1839)
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Common Name
Southern Maori Wrasse
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Superclass
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Class
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Order
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
lineolata
