Seagrass Wrasse

The Seagrass Wrasse, scientifically classified as Novaculoides macrolepidotus, is a wrasse species indigenous to the 🌊 Indian Ocean and the western 🌊 Pacific Ocean. It is typically located in lagoons and mangrove ecosystems, inhabiting seagrass beds or sandy areas that support substantial algal growth. This species can be found from the water's surface to depths of approximately 10 meters (33 feet) and can reach a total length of 16 centimeters (6.3 inches). Notably, the Seagrass Wrasse is represented in the aquarium trade and is the sole member of its genus. Juveniles and smaller adults display Batesian mimicry, resembling the venomous waspfish of the genus Ablabys. In response to threats, these fish exhibit a behavior of burrowing headfirst into the seagrass or seaweed beds they occupy.