Cheek-lined wrasse facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cheek-lined wrasse
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Synonyms
Labrus digramma Lacépède, 1801 Cheilinus digrammus (Lacépède, 1801) Oxycheilinus digrammus (Lacépède, 1801) Sparus radiatus Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801 Cheilinus coccineus Rüppell, 1828 Cheilinus commersonii E. T. Bennett, 1832 Cheilinus diagrammus Valenciennes, 1840 Cheilinus lacrymans Valenciennes, 1840 Cheilinus radiatus Valenciennes, 1840 Cheilinus roseus Valenciennes, 1840

The cheek-lined wrasse, Oxycheilinus digramma, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can also be found in the aquarium trade. The fish grows to about 40 cm (16 in) in standard length. 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 counterparts.

Oxycheilinus digramma lives in coral reefs, sheltered inland areas, and lagoons, possibly at depths from 3 to 60 m (9.8 to 196.9 ft). Juveniles of O. digramma have been observed to live among the tentacles of the mushroom coral Heliofungia actiniformis. This species eats sea urchins, molluscs, and crustaceans. It uses other fish as a moving blind to approach its prey.