• EnglishName: Cigar wrasse
  • Local Name : Ilolhi hikaa
  • Size : Max. 50 cm
  • Family: LABRIDAE
  • Order : Perciformes
  • Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 12-14 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 11-12 rays. Pectoral fin rays 12. Body depth 5.5-8.0 in standard length. Body slender and elongated, not very compressed. Snout long. Caudal fin slightly rounded.
  • Colour: Usually bright green with lateral stripes, but may be brown, yellow or mottled.
  • Habitat and Biology: Typically found in seagrasses or dense beds of algae at depths to 10 m. Mostly solitary
    in habit. Feeds chiefly on molluscs, hermit crabs, crabs, sea urchins and shrimps. Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
  • Remarks: The garish green colouration of Cheilio inermis helps it to camouflages within the seagrass beds. Because of this it is normally only spotted by careful observers, even though it is quite common.
Back to fishes
Biodiversity of Maldives
Biodiversity of Maldives