Halichoeres biocellatus

False-eyed Wrasse | Biocellated Wrasse | Red-lined Wrasse | Two-spotted Wrasse
Halichoeres biocellatus
Halichoeres biocellatus, male, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
Halichoeres biocellatus
Halichoeres biocellatus, North WA, Australia, Photo: Andrew Green
Halichoeres biocellatus
Halichoeres biocellatus, juvenile, Coral Sea, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Halichoeres biocellatus
Halichoeres biocellatus, male, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
Halichoeres biocellatus
Halichoeres biocellatus, juvenile, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
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Halichoeres biocellatus
Halichoeres biocellatus
Halichoeres biocellatus
Halichoeres biocellatus
Halichoeres biocellatus

Distribution

Temperate Australasia, Tropical Indo-Pacific


Description

Purplish body, orange and green stripes on head that extend rearward and disappear along body. Commonly seen with 2 ocelli on dorsal fin, although these are lost with age. Juveniles distinguished from H. marginatus (Dusky Wrasse) and H. melanurus (Hoeven's Wrasse) by having 3 dorsal fin ocelli and a black spot on the tail base.


Information

Max Size: 12 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 22.9-31.2°C

Depth: 6-35 m

Habitat Generalization Index: 19.64

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: Common (26.2% 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: Few (4 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: Joe Shields