Halichoeres chierchiae
Wounded wrasse
Halichoeres chierchiae, adult, Machalilla, Ecuador, Photo: Graham Edgar
Halichoeres chierchiae, Nicaragua, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Halichoeres chierchiae, Nicaragua, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Halichoeres chierchiae, juvenile, Coiba, Panama, Photo: Graham Edgar
Same Genus
![Halichoeres sp. [orientalis]](https://images.reeflifesurvey.com/0/species_c9_574515caa4dd2.w400.h266.jpg)
Distribution
Tropical Eastern Pacific
Description
Terminal phase with a blue and green mottled body, bright green cheek and patch behind pectoral fin, and a black and red blotch on mid back. Initial phase mottled red-brown with a yellow cheek and a white belly. Juveniles brown with blotchy white bands on body, white cheek and three small ocelli on dorsal fin.
Information
Max Size: 18 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 25.4-30.4°C
Depth: 1-70m
Habitat Generalization Index: 16.18
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 (38.9% 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: Many (23 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Joe Shields