Oxycheilinus digramma

Oxycheilinus digramma
Cheeklined Wrasse
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
Genus: Oxychielinus
Species: O. digramma
Binomial name
Oxycheilinus digramma
(Lacépède, 1801)

Oxycheilinus digramma (Cheeklined wrasse) is a fairly large fish species of the family Labridae.

Contents

Size and appearance

The fish grows to a length of about 40 centimeters. The side of the fish's head has horizontal stripes while the front of the head has red spots. Coloring of the fish varies from pale gray to purple. Aquarium specimens are less tense than their wild counterpart.[1]

Habitat

Oxycheilinus digramma live in coral reefs, sheltered inland areas, and lagoons possibly at a depth of 120 meters.[2]

Diet

This species of fish eat sea urchins, molluscs, and crustaceans. A hunting technique of this species it to use other fish as a moving blind to approach its prey.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Michael, Scott (March 2004). "Aquarium Fish: The Cheeklined Maori Wrasse, Cheilinus diagrammus". Advanced Aquarist. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/3/fish. Retrieved 06 August 2011. 
  2. ^ "Oxycheilinus digramma (Lacepède, 1801)". Fish Base. http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/speciesSummary.php?genusname=Oxycheilinus&speciesname=digramma. Retrieved 06 August 2011. 


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