Diagnosis: The fin-ray count of D-IX,11 A-III,12 and Pect-13 indicates Halichoeres and is shared by most of the Caribbean species. Larval H. garnoti are identical to most other larval Halichoeres with five patches of median-fin melanophores and can only be identified by DNA sequencing.
Description: Body relatively thin, narrow and long with a large eye and a terminal, small mouth. Pectoral fins medium, reach to vent. Pelvic fins very short. Dorsal and anal-fin bases long, caudal peduncle short and relatively wide. Melanophores limited to the fin-ray membranes, typically occurring in five groups: at the front, mid, and rear dorsal fin and the front and rear anal fin. Each melanophore group covers from one to five fin spines or rays. Transitional recruits of H. garnoti develop a mid-lateral body stripe from the lower half of the eye to the tail, extending onto the base of the caudal-fin rays. There is no dorsal fin ocellus. The stripe is iridescent blue against a bright yellow body in life; in preserved specimens the stripe is underlain with fine melanophores.
