LABRIDAE


Anampses lineatus
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Anampses lineatus
Randall, 1972
Lined Wrasse

D IX, 12; A III, 12; P1 13; LLp 26; GR 14-16.

Body slightly to moderately deep, compressed. Mouth small, terminal; lips moderately fleshy. A single pair of incisiform forward-projecting teeth at front of each jaw; remaining teeth in jaws minute or imperceptible; no teeth at corner of mouth or on roof of mouth. Head scaleless. Caudal fin rounded. Color: females orangish brown with dark-edged light bluegreen lines (some broken into series of dashes) following longitudinal scale rows; head and chest with pale blue-green spots and irregular narrow bands; a black spot at opercular flap; caudal fin white with a very large black area covering most of outer half of fin. Males develop a bright yellow patch beneath the pectoral fins, and the lines are more blue. Size: maximum length about 13 cm. Distribution: Indian Ocean, from Red Sea and Natal to southern Indonesia. Remarks: a coralreef species generally found at depths greater than 20 m to at least 40 m.