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  • EnglishName: Sixbar wrasse
  • Local Name : Kaashi hikaa
  • Size : Max. 18 cm
  • Family: LABRIDAE
  • Order : Perciformes
  • Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 8 spines and 13 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 11 rays. Pectoral fin with 16 rays. Body depth 2.9-3.2 in standard length. - Caudal fin truncate in juveniles to emarginate in adults.
  • Colour: Green with six black bars dorsally, shading to pale blue ventrally. Broad pink bands on head and a pink lateral stripe posteriorly on body. Females similar but the bars not as black and lacking the ventral blue colour and pink stripe.
  • Habitat and Biology: A common shallow water reef species to depths of 25 m. Mainly a solitary swimming species. Omnivorous in habit.
  • Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
  • Remarks: T. schwanefeldii (Bleeker) is a synonym of Thalassoma hardwicke. T. hardwicke is one of the
    most common wrasses on Maldivian reefs. It readily accepts bread from divers and snorkellers.