Blue Spotted Wrasse

This species is distinguished by the following characters: 27 lateral-line scales; 18-25 gill rakers; mid-dorsal region of nape is naked or with small deeply embedded scales continuous across the dorsal part of nape (more apparent in dried specimens); relatively elongate body with depth 2.3-3.2 in SL; body width 2.2-2.7 in depth; head length (HL) 2.6-3.1 in SL; snout 2.3-2.7 in HL; eye 2.6-3.7 in snout; flexible dorsal spines; caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded; pectoral fins 1.6-1.9 in HL; pelvic fins 2.1-2.5 in HL. Body colour of Initial Phase (IP): brown to orange-brown, a dark edged pale blue spot on each scale; head reddish-brown to orange-brown, with dark-edged narrow blue bands; dorsal fin brown to brownish-red with small dark-edged blue spots, a narrow blue margin and black submarginal line; anal fin brownish-red to red and 2 or 3 rows of small dark-edged blue spots, a narrow blue margin, and black submarginal line; caudal peduncle with reddish hue on upper and lower margins; caudal fin brown to reddish-brown with small dark-edged blue spots and blue margins; pectoral base with a dusky orange-red bar, edged in blue, the upper portion blackish. Colour of Terminal Phase (TP): each scale of body olive with a dark-edged blue vertical line (except on thorax, abdomen, and nape where the blue segments are shorter and variously oriented); head with irregular, narrow, dark edged, blue bands, a broad blue band across anterior interorbital space; most individuals with a broad light green bar on side centered on sixth dorsal spine, the area anterior to this and the region of the nape coloured reddish to reddish-brown; dorsal and anal fins reddish with broad margins and basal stripes of bright blue, dorsal with a median band of small dark-edged blue spots and the anal with one or two blue stripes in middle of fin; reddish caudal fin with prominent blue margins and blue stripes along rays, but with an upper and lower zone of fin largely free of blue; pectoral base with an orange or orange-brown blue-edged bar, the upper portion of which is blackish. It has been reported that during courtship, the blue band between the eyes and around the mouth, and the single light green bar on the body of the male became brighter (Ref. 94255).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Males build dish shaped nests and guard the eggs (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 11 - 13

Occupy an inshore habitat, often exposed to surge; may be found in at least 60 feet of water. Young feed primarily on small crustaceans and polychaetes, adults switch to larger crustaceans and mollusks as well as polychaetes (Ref. 1602).

Adults are found on the surge zone of coral reefs or rocky coasts (Ref. 9710, 58534). They occur singly or in pairs (Ref. 9710). Tiny juveniles swim with head towards the bottom and slowly undulate the body, looking like a floating leaf in the current (Ref. 48636). Young feed primarily on small crustaceans and polychaetes, adults switch to larger crustaceans and mollusks as well as polychaetes (Ref. 1602). They bury at night (Ref. 9710). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Occasionally trawled (Ref. 30573). Not common in fish markets. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874.

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: 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，由紅海、南非到依斯特島，北至日本琉球與臺灣，南至澳洲海域等。臺灣除西部外，各地海域皆有分布。

中小型之隆頭魚，可食用，在臺灣南部、北部、東部或各個離島的礁岸，偶而可釣獲，但在漁市場中並不常見。一般用作為觀賞用魚。

體長形，側扁。口小；唇稍厚，內側具縐褶；上下頜前方各有一對向前伸出門狀齒，扁平而有切截緣。體被大或中大鱗，頭部眼前無鱗，胸部鱗片不較體側為大；側線連續。D. IX, 12； A. III, 12；L.l. 27； G.R. 18-21；胸鰭圓形；腹鰭第I棘或延長；幼魚尾鰭圓型，成魚稍圓至截型。體色隨魚齡及性別而異；幼魚體黃綠至淡黃褐色，頭、體側、背鰭及臀鰭散布大小不一之黑色斑駁；雌魚體橄欖褐，每一鱗片具一鑲黑邊之藍點，尾鰭亦具細藍點，體腹偏紅，頭、胸部具許多鑲黑邊之藍線，背鰭及臀鰭鰭膜偏紅且具 2-3列短藍紋，鰭緣藍色；雄魚藍綠色，每一鱗片具一垂直紋，頭腹面稍藍，上下唇藍色，眼眶間隔具一藍寬帶，胸鰭上方之體側具一寬黃綠色垂直帶，各鰭藍色，背鰭中央具列紅褐帶，臀鰭具二列細紅褐帶，尾鰭上下緣具寬褐邊。

主要棲息於岸邊的珊瑚礁淺海域，尤其是珊瑚礁較繁茂的區域，深度可達30公尺。白天在珊瑚礁區覓食活動，晚上則鑽沙而眠；獨居或成對生活。幼魚常擬態為一片落葉於潮水中漂游，藉此躺避掠食者。具性轉變的行為，屬於先雌後雄型。幼魚以小型甲殼類和多毛類為食，成魚以較大型的甲殼類、軟體動物和多毛類等為食。

The blue-spotted wrasse (Anampses caeruleopunctatus) is a species of wrasse found from the Atlantic coast of South Africa through the Indian Ocean to Japan and Australia east to Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean (though absent from Hawaii). This species is found at depths from 3 to 30 m (9.8 to 98.4 ft), with the adults preferring the surge zone on coral reefs or along rocky coastlines. Juveniles orient their bodies and move in such a way as to resemble floating leaves. This species can reach a length of 42 cm (17 in). It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade.

A female Anampses caeruleopunctatus. A male Anampses caeruleopunctatus.

Occurs in inshore areas on shallow coral reefs. Young feed primarily on small crustaceans and polychaetes, adults switch to larger crustaceans and molluscs as well as polychaetes (Ref. 1602). Not common in fish markets.