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  • EnglishName: Stripebelly wrasse
  • Local Name : Huifathu hikaa
  • Size : Max. 15 cm
  • Family: LABRIDAE
  • Order : Perciformes
  • Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 11 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 11 rays. Pectoral fin with 15 (rarely 14) rays. Body depth 3.5-3.9 in standard length. Scales on chest.
  • Colour: Males greenish to yellowish brown dorsally, white ventrally. Four longitudinal blue lines, only one of which extends full length of head and body. A broad red band from pectoral fin base to gill opening, and a small black spot at upper end of gill opening. Females greenish to brownish grey dorsally, white ventrally, many fine longitudinal lines and a small blue edged dark spot at caudal base.
  • Habitat and Biology: Usually found on algal flats, seagrass beds or on sandy areas around reefs. Feeds on benthic invertebrates.
  • Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
  • Remarks: The terminal males more colourful and very different from initial phase. S. renardi (Bleeker) is a
    synonym based on the terminal male phase of Stethojulis strigiventer.