EnglishName: Tubelip wrasse
Local Name : Eh rongu hikaa
Size : Max. 17.5 cm
Family: LABRIDAE
Order : Perciformes
Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 11-12 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 10-11 rays. Pectoral fin with 14-15 rays. Preopercular margin covered by scales. Top of head scaled to nostrils. Lower part of head scaled anterior to eye. Body depth 2.6-3.2 in standard length. Lips thick and fleshy forming a tube when closed. Caudal fin strongly rounded.
Colour: Dark brown, almost black. Juveniles with 2 white lines along sides, lower one lost with growth. Females with yellow lips and pale blue caudal margins. Males with dark blue lines on head and body. Broad yellow bars on sides behind pectoral.
Habitat and Biology: Occurs in sheltered coral-rich habitats. Feeds on coral polyps.
Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
Remarks: Labrichthys unilineatus is a small and dark-coloured species so it is easily overlooked, even thought it is not uncommon on Maldivian reefs. There is only one species in the genus. L. cyanotaenia Bleeker is as synonym.