Thalassoma genivittatum

(Valenciennes, 1839)

Vernacular names
English : Red-cheek wrasse
French : Girelle-paon bariolée

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Eupercaria i. s. (sometimes still Perciformes)
Family : Labridae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow to 20 cm in length. Juveniles with white belly and brown-black upper body. Females have golden yellow areas from cheek to gill coverts and near tail with turquoise belly. Adult males are dark green with yellow cheeks.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the western Indian Ocean, from East Africa (Mozambique and Natal) to Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius and Rodrigues. Lives in rocky reefs with little coral cover, from 4 to 25 meters deep.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a small range that IUCN qualifies as restricted. It is locally common but collected for trade in small numbers. Monitoring is needed.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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