Halichoeres dispilus
Chameleon wrasse
Same Genus
![Halichoeres sp. [orientalis]](https://images.reeflifesurvey.com/0/species_c9_574515caa4dd2.w400.h266.jpg)
Distribution
Tropical Eastern Pacific
Description
Males apricot to grey-pink body with a blue-edged dark spot on back above pectoral fin, red blotch on belly overlaid with blue markings, blue markings on face and rows of blue dashes along body. Females with a small black spot on back, no blue markings and a round black spot on tail base. Juveniles grey with an iridescent blue stripe along mid body, another less distinct stripe along back and a black spot on tail base.
Information
Max Size: 25 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 20.8-30.3°C
Depth: 1-76m
Habitat Generalization Index: 30.5
Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.
Conservation and Rarity
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Occurrence: Widespread (68.7% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Large aggregations (169 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Joe Shields