Snooty Wrasse

Brownish red, mottled with small whitish spots; dark brown spot anteriorly on each side of upper lip; 2 dark lines diverging from the eye; dark brown spot on 1st 2 dorsal membranes (Ref. 4392). Deep-bodied for genus, and snout pointed (Ref. 48636).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154).

Found in coral-rich areas of lagoon and seaward reefs at depths of 1 to over 40 m (Ref. 1602, 48636, 58534). A secretive species (Ref. 8631, 48636), rarely ventures more than a few centimeters from shelter (Ref. 1602). A shy species, usually found in pairs when adult (Ref. 48636). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

分布於印度-太平洋區，由東非到馬貴斯及社會群島，北至日本琉球與台灣，南至澳洲大堡礁。台灣除西部及北部外，各地海域皆有分布。

中小型之隆頭魚，以一支釣、延繩釣或潛水鏢魚較有可能捕獲。可被當作觀賞魚，亦可食用，但產量較少。

體延長而呈長卵圓形；吻稍尖，口端位或下頜稍突出，頭部自口至眼上方之背面輪廓稍凹；標準體長為體高的2.4-3.0倍。鼻孔每側 2個。上下頜各具錐形齒一列，前端各有一對大犬齒。前鰓蓋骨邊緣具鋸齒；左右鰓膜癒合，不與峽部相逢。體被大形圓鱗；頭部眼上方被鱗。D. IX, 10；A. III, 8； P. 11-12；L.l. 15-16+6-8；G.R. 4+6；尾鰭圓形，成魚僅上緣略呈絲狀；成魚腹鰭第一軟條不延長而向後達肛門。體橄欖綠至紅褐色，具白色小點；上唇每側前方具一黑褐色斑點；眼後方常有 2條短黑線；幼魚體側後中央具 3個小黑點；背鰭第I與第II棘間膜具黑褐斑。

主要棲息於向海的礁坡，且在珊瑚茂密的水域活動，深度約1-40公尺左右的水層。生性害羞，因此行動較為隱密，日行性的它即使在大白天也很少會遠離居住地覓食，略尖的小嘴正好方便啃食躲在礁石邊的蝦、蟹、貝類等的無脊椎動物，偶爾也會吃些小魚當點心，屬肉食性魚。

The snooty wrasse (Cheilinus oxycephalus), also known as the red maori wrasse, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses. It is a widespread Indo-Pacific reef fish.

Found in lagoon and seaward reefs at depths of 1 to over 40 m (Ref. 1602). A secretive species (Ref. 8631), rarely ventures more than a few centimeters from shelter (Ref. 1602).