Cheilinus lunulatus, common name Broomtail wrasse, is a species of wrasses in the family Labridae.

Description

Cheilinus lunulatus can reach an average length of about 35 centimetres (14 in), with a maximum of 50 centimetres (20 in) in males. In adults the head is large, bright green, with small spots. The lips are large and blue. The pectoral fins are yellow, while the abdominal fins, the anal fins and the caudal fin are dark blue. The body is yellow-green in the middle, dark purple in the other part. Close to the operculum there is a characteristic bright yellow marking on a black background. It has a long fringed caudal fin, resembling an old broom (hence the common name). Females and juveniles show large dark stripes on their flanks. This wrasse feeds mainly on molluscs and hard-shelled invertebrates. It is oviparous.

Distribution

This species is widespread in the Western Indian Ocean, from Red Sea to the Gulf of Oman (mainly in Djibouti, Eritrea, Red Sea, Seychelles, Somalia). In the Indo-Pacific this is replaced by the closely related Cheilinus trilobatus.

Habitat

Broomtail wrasse can be found on coral reefs and on adjacent sand and seagrass habitats, , at depths of from 2 to 30 metres (6.6 to 98 ft).

Bibliography

• Lieske E., 1998 - Peces de arrecifes coralinos del Indo-Pacífico y Caribe – Omega, Barcelona
• Randall J.E. - Red Sea reef fishes - Immel Publishing, London 1986

References

• FishBase
• World Register of Marine Species link: Cheilinus lunulatus (+species list)
• Biolib
• Pictures of C. lunulatus
• Fran.cornu.free