Choerodon cephalotes (Castelnau, 1875)
Purple tuskfish
photo by CSIRO

Family:  Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Bodianinae
Max. size:  38 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 365.0 g
Environment:  reef-associated; marine
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia to Queensland, Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 10-10. Body scales edged with blue giving sides uneven banded appearance. No small prominent black spot on side. A horizontally elongate dusky blotch present below centre of fin in some specimens. Head with many small orange spots on cheek, forehead crossed by 4 or 5 sets of alternating blue and orange stripes. Second prominent anterior canine in lower jaw distinctly smaller than first in adults, directed dorsolaterally and curved slightly posteriorly. 1 to 3 scales on subopercle. (Ref 9823)
Biology:  Adults occur solitarily in shallow coral reefs and seagrass beds. Feed mainly on hard-shelled prey including crustaceans, mollusks and sea urchins (Ref. 9823). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). An excellent food fish.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 April 2008 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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