Pastel ringwrasse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pastel ringwrasse |
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| Hologymnosus doliatus (Lacepède, 1801) | |
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The Pastel Ringwrasse (scientific name: Hologymnosus doliatus) is a colorful fish that lives in the ocean. It's part of a group of fish called wrasses. You can find this fish in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific region.
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What Does the Pastel Ringwrasse Look Like?
The Pastel Ringwrasse has a long, thin body. It has small scales covering its body, but its head is smooth.
Male fish are often bluish-green or light reddish. They have pretty lavender stripes and orange lines on their heads. They also have a light band behind their pectoral fins.
Female fish can be bluish, greenish, or grayish. They have about 20 to 23 orange stripes along their sides. There's also a bluish-black spot near their gill cover.
Young fish, called juveniles, are whitish. They have three thin orange-red stripes. This fish can grow up to 50 centimetres (20 in) long.
Where Does the Pastel Ringwrasse Live?
The Pastel Ringwrasse lives in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. You can find it from East Africa all the way to Samoa and the Line Islands. It also lives north near Japan and south near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It can be found as far south as Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.
Habitat and Life of the Pastel Ringwrasse
These fish like to live near coral reefs. They prefer areas with sand, rubble, and coral. They can be found in waters up to at least 30 metres (98 ft) deep.
Young Pastel Ringwrasse fish usually stay together in groups close to the ocean floor. Adult fish swim higher up above the bottom. Female fish often form small groups. Male fish, however, usually live alone. They are territorial, meaning they guard a large part of the reef.
The Pastel Ringwrasse is a carnivore, which means it eats other animals. About half of its diet is made up of smaller fish. They also enjoy eating crustaceans, especially shrimps. Sometimes, they will also eat brittlestars and polychaete worms.
How Humans Use the Pastel Ringwrasse
People sometimes collect the Pastel Ringwrasse for aquariums. It is also caught by small local fishing groups for food.
