Blueside Wrasse (female)

The blueside wrasse, Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura, is a species of wrasse native to the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is found on reefs in schools swimming 1 to 2 m (3.3 to 6.6 ft) above the bottom. It occurs at depths from 2 to 30 m (6.6 to 98.4 ft), most often between 5 and 20 m (16 and 66 ft). This species can reach a standard length of 15 cm (5.9 in). It can be found in the aquarium trade.

Other Names: Blue-scaled Fairy-wrasse, Blue-scaled Wrasse, Blue-side Wrasse, Coralline Wrasse, Red-eyed Wrasse, Yellow-flanked Wrasse

Description

A fairy wrasse with a bluish-grey upper head and anterior body, becoming orange-brown to pinkish-red on the back and rear, with purple to bluish scale margins forming a blotchy area behind the pectoral fin, and a purple band across the pectoral-fin base.
Females are brownish with fine pale bluish spots becoming pale below. Juveniles are red-brown with white tip on snout and dark spot on tail base. Juveniles are mostly reddish-purple with a white belly, a white snout tip and a black spot on the upper part of the caudal peduncle.

Distribution

Monte Bello Islands to Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef, Western Australia, Ashmore Reef, Timor Sea, and the northern Great Barrier Reef to the Capricorn Group, Queensland; also reefs in the Coral Sea, and Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean.

Habitat

Inhabits mixed coral-rubble areas on inshore reefs, forming aggregations above coral or rocky bottoms and coral rubble along the edges of lagoon, channel, and outer reef slopes. It has a short lifespan and feeds on zooplankton. It may be relatively common but declining because of threats: blast fishing, sedimentation, pollution, collection for the aquarium trade and habitat loss of shallow reefs.