Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Labridae (Wrasses) > Cheilininae
Etymology: Oxycheilinus: Greek, oxys = sharp + Greek, cheilos = lip.
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 110 m (Ref. 1602). Tropical; 32°N - 21°S
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian and Marquesan islands, north to southern Japan, south to Vanuatu.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4392)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 9;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 10-11;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 8. Body variable from brown to yellow or green mixed with various color shades or spots. Males develop long filaments on the caudal fin (Ref. 48636). Young with a broad, dark lateral stripe which breaks into dark blotches in adults, the largest above distal pectoral fins. A small dark spot behind eye. Mouth terminal or lower jaw slightly projecting. Caudal fin of terminal males rhomboid, with central rays longest, and dorsalmost caudal-fin ray elongated into a short filament. A small species (reaching about 14 cm) (Ref 9823).
Inhabits outer reef slopes or deep clear lagoons among rubble or clumps of algae; also in seagrass beds (Ref. 1602, 41878, 58302). Often in sheltered estuaries and harbors (Ref. 48636). Benthic and benthopelagic (Ref. 58302).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Westneat, M.W., 1993. Phylogenetic relationships of the tribe Cheilinini (Labridae: Perciformes). Bull. Mar. Sci. 52(1):351-394. (Ref. 7441)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 126983)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial
More information
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