TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Labridae (Wrasses)

Genus/species: Halichoeres chloropterus

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GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Juveniles lime green; females pale green above and white below, with a thin dark line on the base of the pectoral fin. Terminal males head of male with intricate reticulate pattern of bands that varies from one individual to another; small blackish spot on anus.

Length up to 19 cm (7.5 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: West Central Pacific: Philippines to the Great Barrier Reef. Found in shallow protected coral reef on silt, sand and rubble bottom. Depth to 10 meters (33 feet)

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DIET IN THE WILD: Hard-shelled prey, including mollusks, crustaceans, and sea urchins.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least concern.

References

California Academy of Sciences Philippine coral reef 201

Ron’s flickr  https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3332103036/in/set-72157608208133134/

Ron’s WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1eI

fishbase: www.fishbase.org/summary/Halichoeres-chloropterus.html

EOL eol.org/pages/223761/details