Cocktail wrasse

The pattern of the male is impressive.

Scientific name	Pteragogus aurigariu
English name	Cocktail wrasse
Japanese name	お歯黒倍良
Classification	Actinopterygii
Classification details	Perciformes Labridae
Full length	about 20cm
Distribution	Shallow reefs and seaweed beds.

Characteristics

Wrasse named after the black face of the male.

Males and females have different body colors. The male has a greenish-brown body with yellow-edged scales. Around the face there is a pattern like kumadori. Females are brown in color.

It is tall and has a large mouth. There are teeth protruding from the tip of the mouth, but they are not black. The rim of the mouth is yellow. It has nine spines on its back.

Ecology

Lives in rocky areas and seaweed beds, acts alone, and eats small animals such as crustaceans. The larger individual becomes the male.

Habitat

Miura Peninsula Arasaki

Found at Arasaki Reef. It was swimming leisurely between rocks at a depth of 3-4m. It was like eating a small animal attached to a rock. The pattern on its face looks a little eerie when viewed underwater.