• EnglishName: Bicolour cleaner wrasse
  • Local Name : Dhon theyofulhi mas
  • Size : Max. 14 cm
  • Family: LABRIDAE
  • Order : Perciformes
  • Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 10-11 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 9-10 rays. Pectoral fin with 13 rays. Body depth 3.7-4.5 in standard length. Small scales on cheek, opercle and nape. Lips thick, the lower strongly bi-lobed. Caudal fin slightly rounded.
  • Colour: Adults dark anteriorly and pale posteriorly. Females grey and pale yellow, males dark blue/ black and bright yellow. Juveniles with bright yellow dorsal stripe.
  • Habitat and Biology: Commonly seen moving over the reef slopes to depths of 42 m. Feeds on ectoparasites (and mucus) of other fishes.
  • Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
  • Remarks: Labroides bicolor is a cleaner wrasse and is the largest of the genus. It is more inclined to follow
    larger fishes in its cleaning operations than other cleaner wrasses.
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Biodiversity of Maldives
Biodiversity of Maldives