Striated wrasse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Striated wrasse |
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The striated wrasse (Pseudocheilinus evanidus) is a cool fish that lives in the ocean. People also call it the disappearing wrasse, pinstripe wrasse, or scarlet wrasse. It's part of the Labridae family, which are known as wrasses. You can find this fish in many parts of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Sometimes, it's even kept in home aquariums!
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What Does the Striated Wrasse Look Like?
This wrasse is a small fish. It usually has a reddish color. You can see about 24 thin white lines running along its body. Sometimes, it also has 5 or 6 dark stripes going across.
Look closely and you might spot a blue line under its eye. The edges of its gill cover are often dark. This fish can grow up to about 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) long. Both male and female wrasses look similar. However, females might have slightly lighter colors.
Interestingly, the striated wrasse can glow red! This special glow, called fluorescence, comes from its bony scales and fin rays.
Where Does the Striated Wrasse Live?
The striated wrasse lives in a very wide area. You can find it in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. Its home stretches all the way from Africa to Hawaii.
In the western Indian Ocean, it lives from the Red Sea near Jordan down to South Africa. It has also been seen near places like the Seychelles and Réunion. In the Pacific Ocean, it ranges from Japan in the north to Australia and Hawaii in the east. It even reaches the Marquesas Islands in the south.
Life in the Ocean: Habitat and Habits
The striated wrasse is a bit shy and likes to be alone. It lives near coral reefs, especially on the slopes that face the open ocean. You can find it hiding among broken pieces of coral or in branching corals.
It usually lives at depths from 6 to 40 meters (about 20 to 130 feet). It's not often seen in water shallower than 20 meters (about 65 feet). This wrasse is a carnivore, which means it eats meat. It hunts for small creatures without backbones that live on the ocean floor.
When it's time to have babies, the male and female wrasse pair up. This fish lays eggs, which is called being oviparous. In Japan, scientists think they lay their eggs in the summer.
How Scientists Named It
The striated wrasse was first officially described in 1903. Two scientists, David Starr Jordan and Barton Warren Evermann, gave it its scientific name, Pseudocheilinus evanidus. The very first fish they studied to describe the species was found near Hilo on Hawaii Island.
Striated Wrasse and People
In some parts of Thailand, like among the Sea Gypsies, the striated wrasse is caught and eaten as food. It's also a popular fish for people who enjoy keeping marine fish. Many fish lovers like to have this colorful wrasse in their home aquariums.
