About Hemigymnus fasciatus (Bloch, 1792)
The barred thicklip wrasse, scientifically named Hemigymnus fasciatus (Bloch, 1792), is a medium-sized fish that can reach a maximum length between 30 and 50 centimeters. It has a tall, relatively flattened body, a large head, and thick lips at its terminal mouth. Its body coloration changes with age. In the juvenile phase, this wrasse has a green-yellow base body color with six yellow vertical stripes, separated by thin black vertical lines that are not always visible. Females in the initial phase have a dark green to black body with four vertical white stripes. Their heads are green and white with pink patterns that are outlined in turquoise, and their caudal fin is orange. In the terminal phase, mature males have a dark green to black body with four white stripes. These stripes get thinner toward the top of the body, and may even fade completely in older individuals. The male's head shares the same color pattern as the female's, but the patterns are more intensely colored, with a distinct horseshoe-shaped pattern on the snout. The male's caudal fin matches the dominant color of its body. The barred thicklip wrasse is widely distributed across tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. Its range extends from the eastern coast of Africa (including the Red Sea) to Polynesia, and from New Caledonia to southern Japan. It prefers mixed coral habitats that include rubble, sand, and corals, which let it easily find food and shelter. These habitats range from the surface down to 25 meters deep. Juveniles are more shy and reclusive, and always stay hidden among corals or even inside sea urchins.
