Redshoulder Wrasse (male)

Stethojulis bandanensis is a member of genus Stethojulis native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Description

A wrasse with a distinctive reddish spot above the pectoral-fin base at all life stages. Males (terminal phase) are olive-brown above, with a paler lower body separated by a narrow blue stripe through the pectoral-fin base running onto the tail, a narrow blue stripe from the eye along the dorsal-fin base and upper part of the tail, two blue stripes on the anterior body, blue stripes on the head, and a yellow patch on cheek. Females (initial phase) are greyish with small white spots densely covering the upper body, a light patch on each scale on the lower part of the body giving a cross-hatched pattern, a reddish spot above the pectoral-fin base and two small ocelli in the middle of the tail base. Juvenile have small ocelli on the rear of the dorsal fin and tail base.

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: eastern Indian Ocean to western Australia, including the Christmas Island, Cocos-Keeling and the Andaman Sea; then from Japan to New South Wales, Australia. Eastern Pacific: offshore islands in the eastern Pacific, including Clipperton, Cocos and the Galapagos islands.

Habitat

Usually found in shallow clear water of reef flats and lagoon and seaward reefs, in areas of mixed sand, rubble and coral. Usually solitary or in small groups. Feeds mainly on demersal planktonic crustaceans and small benthic invertebrates.