LABRIDAE Halichoeres leucoxanthus, 3.4 cm SL (photo by Richard Winterbottom) Halichoeres leucoxanthus Randall and Smith, 1982 Canarytop Wrasse D IX, 12; A III, 12; P1 13; LLp 27; GR 16-18. Body moderately elongate. Dorsal profile of head slightly convex; jaw prominent; a single pair of prominent canines situated anteriorly in each jaw; a large curved canine present on each side at rear of upper jaw; pharyngeal teeth well developed, molariform. Dorsal-fin origin very slightly posterior to a vertical at upper end of gill opening. Head naked except for a triangular zone of small scales on nape. Lateral line complete. Caudal fin moderately rounded. Color: in females, upper half of head and body bright yellow, lower half of body pinkish white; 3 black spots, rimmed with bluish white, in dorsal fin, first on outer half of first interspinous membrane, second on basal third of membrane between second and third soft rays, and third on basal third of membrane between the 2 last rays; a small black spot on fifth branched caudal ray. Males similar in color pattern but with a vertically elongate greenish black spot behind eye, following by a bright yellow spot of similar size; head with longitudinal bands of deep yellow, faintly edged in blue. Size: maximum length about 11 cm. Distribution: Eastern Indian Ocean, from Maldives to Andaman Sea, eastward to Java. Remarks: inhabits areas of sand and rubble at edge of reefs at depths of 7-60 m.