Blue-throated wrasse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue-throated wrasse |
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Labrus tetricus Richardson, 1840
Pseudolabrus tetricus (Richardson, 1840) Tautoga tetrica (Richardson, 1840) Labrichthys bleekeri Castelnau, 1872 Pseudolabrus bleekeri (Castelnau, 1872) Labrichthys richardsoni Castelnau, 1872 Pseudolabrus richardsonii (Castelnau, 1872) Labrichthys vestita Castelnau, 1872 Pseudolabrus vestitus (Castelnau, 1872) Labrichthys cuvieri Castelnau, 1873 Labrichthys cyanogenys Ramsay & Ogilby, 1887 Pseudolabrus cyanogenys (Ramsay & Ogilby, 1887) |
The blue-throated wrasse (Notolabrus tetricus) is a fascinating fish that lives in the ocean. It is also known by many other names, like bluehead or bluenose. This fish belongs to the wrasse family, called Labridae. You can find it in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, especially near the southeastern coast of Australia.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The blue-throated wrasse has a body that is fairly deep and a snout that is quite round. Male wrasses can be many different colors. Their bodies might be grayish, greenish-blue, or even reddish-orange.
Their heads are usually pale, but their chin and throat are a bright blue. The fins on their chest, belly, and near their tail are yellow. Males also have a clear, thick white stripe around the middle of their body.
Female and young wrasses look different. They are usually greenish or brownish with a spotted pattern. They often have a large vertical patch with smaller white spots nearby. Older females might become paler behind this vertical stripe.
This fish can grow up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) long. Males are usually between 30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches). Females are a bit smaller, typically 20 to 35 cm (8 to 14 inches) long.
Where Does It Live?
The blue-throated wrasse only lives in the waters of southeastern Australia. You can find it from Newcastle, New South Wales and Sydney in New South Wales, south to Victoria and Tasmania, and east to South Australia. These wrasses are very common reef fish in northern Tasmania and southern Australia.
Life in the Ocean
Blue-throated wrasses live in rocky reefs, from calm areas to places with strong waves. They are often found where there are seaweeds, sometimes as deep as 160 meters (about 525 feet).
Adult wrasses usually stay near the ocean floor in deeper water. Younger fish prefer shallower waters. They like to hide in beds of kelp and other seaweeds, as well as in seagrass.
This fish is a carnivore, which means it eats other animals. Its main diet includes molluscs (like snails and clams) and crustaceans (like crabs and shrimp).
One interesting thing about the blue-throated wrasse is that it's a protogynous hermaphrodite. This means that all wrasses are born female. As they get older, some females change into males! This usually happens after they are about 4 years old. About 12% of females change sex each year.
This species lays eggs, which is called being oviparous. They lay their eggs in the Spring and form pairs to do so. Blue-throated wrasses live in groups called harems. Each harem has one large male and several females. These fish can live for a long time, often more than 15 years.
Naming the Wrasse
The blue-throated wrasse was first officially described in 1840. It was named Labrus tetricus by a Scottish naturalist named John Richardson. The name tetricus means "grim." This name was chosen because large male wrasses can look a bit serious or forbidding. Sometimes, this species can even breed with another type of wrasse called Notolabrus fucicola.
Wrasses and People
People fish for blue-throated wrasses for both fun and for business. They are caught by people fishing with hooks and lines. Commercial fishermen also catch them using trawlers and large nets. Spearfishers also hunt them. Sometimes, they are accidentally caught by fishermen who are trying to catch lobsters.
In some parts of Australia, there are rules about how many wrasses a person can catch. These are called "bag limits."
Protecting the Blue-throated Wrasse
There are rules in place to help protect the blue-throated wrasse. For example, in Victoria, you cannot catch a wrasse shorter than 28 cm (11 inches). In Tasmania, the minimum size is 30 cm (12 inches). Also, fishing licenses are limited in these areas.
Scientists are concerned because the biggest, most dominant males are often the easiest to catch. If too many large males are caught, it can make it harder for the wrasses to breed successfully. This means fewer young fish will join the population. There are worries that the minimum size limit in Tasmania might not be enough to protect them.
Pollution and dirt in the water can also harm the places where these fish live. This is another challenge for the blue-throated wrasse.
See also
In Spanish: Notolabrus tetricus para niños
