Halichoeres trimaculatus
Three-spot wrasse | Spottail Rainbowfish | Three-spot Rainbowfish
Halichoeres trimaculatus, Lord Howe Island, NSW, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Halichoeres trimaculatus, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
Halichoeres trimaculatus, male, Lord Howe Island, NSW, Australia
Halichoeres trimaculatus, juvenile, Lord Howe Is, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Halichoeres trimaculatus, Lord Howe Island, NSW, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Same Genus
![Halichoeres sp. [orientalis]](https://images.reeflifesurvey.com/0/species_c9_574515caa4dd2.w400.h266.jpg)
Distribution
Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Pale body with black spot on upper tail base, smaller black spot behind operculum, pink lines on face breaking into spots behind head, yellow tail. Younger individuals lack spot behind operculum and yellow tail, have less distinct facial markings and may have a yellow instead of black spot on tail base. Lacks horizontal stripe of H. scapularis (Zigzag Wrasse), but lives in similar sandy and lagoon habitats.
Information
Max Size: 27 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 19.1-31.2°C
Depth: 2-30 m
Habitat Generalization Index: 20.19
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: Frequent (19.3% 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: Several (10 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Joe Shields