Dotalabrus aurantiacus
Castelnaus wrasse
Similar Species
Same Genus
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Variably patterned species that can usually be recognised by four broken bars across the body and dark radiating lines below the eye. The species is most easily recognised underwater by a characteristic bobbing motion as it swims obliquely up from the seabed and then settles back down, then to repeat the process. The species is very common among brown seaweeds and seagrass but is often mistaken for the juvenile stage of other wrasse species.
Information
Max Size: 11 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 10.3-22.1°C
Depth: 1-47 m
Habitat Generalization Index: 6.84
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 (40.1% 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 (2 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney