Blackeye Sweetlips Wrasse

The Blackeye Thicklips or banner wrasses are found singly, over coral, rubble, and sandy areas, of reef flats, lagoons and seaward reefs.They feed on small invertebrates. These are the largest of wrasses with thick lips, hence the name!

Juveniles secretive and shy, amongst the branches of corals over inshore reefs.
Length - 37cm
Depth - 1-30m

They are widespread in the Indo-Pacific Region and are often seen taking in mouthfuls of sand to sift out invertebrates before passing the sand out through the gill openings.

Adults are mostly whitish to pale greenish or greyish anterior to a diagonal line between the dorsal and anal fin origins, blackish to dark green posteriorly, with a pattern of scribbles and lines on the head. Juveniles are greenish-brown with a diagonal white bar behind the pectoral fin.

Thesewrasse lives solitary or in small groups. It is a benthic predator that feeds mainly on small marine invertebrates such as crustaceans, molluscs, worms and echinoderms captured on or in the substrate.