The broomtail wrasse (Cheilinus lunulatus) is a species of wrasse that is native to the 🌊 Red Sea and 🌊 Indian Ocean. It has an average length of about 35 cm (14 in), with males being able to reach a maximum length of 50 cm (20 in). In adults, the head is large and brightly green, adorned with small spots. The lips are large and blue, while the pectoral fins are yellow. The abdominal, anal, and caudal fins are dark blue, and the body displays a yellow-green color in the middle, transitioning to dark purple in other areas. Notably, there is a distinctive bright-yellow marking on a black background near the operculum. The long fringed caudal fin resembles an old broom, hence the common name, or the tail of a crowntail betta. Females and juveniles have large, dark stripes on their flanks.
The diet of the broomtail wrasse consists mainly of molluscs and hard-shelled invertebrates. This species reproduces through oviparity.
The broomtail wrasse is found in the 🌊 Red Sea to the 🌊 Gulf of Oman, particularly near 🇩🇯 Djibouti, 🇪🇷 Eritrea, the 🇸🇨 Seychelles, and 🇸🇴 Somalia. In the Indo-Pacific region, it is replaced by the closely related species Cheilinus trilobatus.
These wrasses inhabit coral reefs as well as adjacent sand and seagrass habitats. They can be found at depths ranging from 2 to 30 meters (6.6 to 98.4 feet).
Why it's threatened
Threat classification from the IUCN Red List.
