LABRIDAE Gomphosus caeruleus (initial phase; photo by Baramee Temboonkiat) Gomphosus caeruleus, 15.8 cm SL (terminal phase; photo by Richard Wintterbottom) Gomphosus caeruleus Lacepède, 1801 Indian Ocean Bird Wrasse D VIII, 13; A II, 11; P1 15; LLp 25-26. Body moderately slender. Dorsal profile of head nearly straight; snout very elongate and tubular (except small juveniles), more than half head length in adults. Lateral line continuous sharply deflected downward below posterior part of dorsal fin; head scaleless. Caudal fin varying from slightly rounded in juveniles to lunate with filamentous lobes in large adult males. Color: initial phase yellowish with a blackish spot on each scale except chest and lower abdomen; blackish spots also on postorbital head and interorbital space; a brown stripe on side of snout; caudal fin with clear yellowish posterior margin and a broad blackish submarginal band. Terminal males dark blue-green, this color extending onto caudal fin except for a large semicircular light green area centroposteriorly in fin; outer part of dorsal and anal fins light green. Size: maximum length about 28 cm. Distribution: Indian Ocean, from East Africa to Andaman Sea. Remarks: found on coral and rocky reefs at depths of 1-20 m. Feeds on small invertebrates.