Cheilinus trilobatus

(Lacepède, 1801)

Vernacular names
English : Tripletail wrasse
French : Vieille à triple queue

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

Identification
Large elongated face, head blue to blue-green with numerous bright pink spots and lines. Flanks mostly turquoise-green with vertical pink line on each scales. Fin tips and edges bright red.

Range and habitat
Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Tuamoto and Austral islands, to south Japan and New Caledonia. Found around shallow reef margins or lagoons and seaward reefs, with good coral cover.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is widespread and common so far. It is very rarely caught for the trade but seems to be dependent on corals. Widespread habitat loss could quickly become a threat.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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