Peacock Razorfish

Iniistius pavo, commonly known as the peacock wrasse or blue razorfish, is a marine ray-finned species belonging to the Labridae family, which is distributed widely across the Indo-Pacific region.

Identifiable by the distinctive dark vertical bar underneath its eye, Iniistius pavo displays several unique features. This species is characterized by a small dark spot located beneath the anterior part of the dorsal fin, a white patch behind the pectoral fin, and an oblique brown bar below the eye. Adults typically exhibit five dark bars, with females displaying a red hue on their bellies. Juvenile Iniistius pavo can be recognized by a black anal fin and two prominent eyespots with narrow white margins on their dorsal fin. The first two dorsal fin spines form a distinct, separate fin, which appears as a long, banner-like filament in juveniles, but shortens as the fish matures. Juveniles may range in color from whitish with dark body bars to a more generalized brown. These juveniles often mimic leaves and debris while drifting in the water. The species can reach a total length of up to 42 centimeters (17 inches).

The geographic range of Iniistius pavo spans the Indo-Pacific, from the 🌊 Red Sea and the East African coast extending south to KwaZulu-Natal (🇿🇦 South Africa), eastward to the Society Islands (🇵🇫 French Polynesia), north to southern 🇯🇵 Japan and Hawaii (🇺🇸 United States), and south to 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (🇫🇷 Overseas France), Lord Howe Island, and New South Wales. Additionally, it is found in the Eastern Pacific from the Gulf of 🇺🇸 California to 🇵🇦 Panama and the Galapagos Islands.

Iniistius pavo typically inhabits solitary, benthic, and benthopelagic regions within lagoon and seaward reef environments where the substrate consists of fine to coarse sand. Juveniles are sometimes observed in shallow estuarine locations. Adult specimens are infrequently found in waters less than 20 meters (66 feet) deep. For nocturnal security and when threatened, this species buries itself swiftly in the sand, utilizing its sharp snout. Its diet primarily consists of hard-shelled invertebrates, such as molluscs and crustaceans. Juveniles employ the elongated, detached section of their dorsal fin to imitate drifting leaves.

Initially described as Xyrichtys pavo in 1840 with 🇲🇺 Mauritius designated as the type locality, Iniistius pavo became the type species when Theodore Nicholas Gill established the genus Iniistius.

While not commercially targeted, Iniistius pavo is known for its palatable flesh and, when of sufficient size, may be marketed. It is also occasionally collected for the aquarium trade.