Red-lined wrasse juvenile

Description:

The red-lined wrasse can grow to about 12 centimetres (4.7 in) in length. Mature males are silvery grey with narrow longitudinal red stripes and a dark mark on their caudal peduncle. Females have narrow orange stripes, continuous near the front but intermittent near the back. Juveniles and females have two distinctive, dark coloured spots outlined in white on the dorsal fin, one in the middle and one near the back. These may fade as the fish matures. The long narrow dorsal fin has 9 spines and 12 soft rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and 11 or 12 soft rays.

Habitat:

It is found in shallow tropical waters in the western Pacific Ocean. It inhabits the seaward side of coral and rocky reefs, usually with sandy patches, and is also found on reef slopes and crests with rock, rubble and seaweed.