The sixbar wrasse or six-banded wrasse (Thalassoma hardwicke) is a species of wrasse in the family Labridae, native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It is an inhabitant of reef environments at depths from the surface down to 15 m (50 ft). This species can grow to 20 cm (8 in) in total length, though most individuals do not exceed 15 cm (6 in). It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can also be found in the aquarium trade.[3]
The sixbar wrasse grows to a maximum total length of 20 cm (8 in). The dorsal fin has 8 spines and 12 to 14 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 11 soft rays. It is a greenish fish with four dark bars on its upper body and two more saddle-like bars over the caudal peduncle. In larger adults, the head has a number of pink streaks radiating from near the eye.[3]
Distribution and habitatedit
The sixbar wrasse is native to the tropical Indo-Pacific between 30°N and 32°S.[3] Its range extends from East Africa and Madagascar to Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, northern Australia and various island groups in the Western Pacific. It is found on coral reefs, reef slopes and in lagoons, down to depths of 15 m (50 ft) or more.[1]
Ecologyedit
The sixbar wrasse is diurnal and has a home range that exceeds 1,000 m2 (11,000 sq ft). It forms small groups and feeds on planktonic and benthiccrustaceans, foraminiferans, small fish, fish eggs and fish larvae. Males and females form pairs during the breeding season, and at this time males develop a gaudier colour and a black spot in the centre of the caudal fin.[1][3]
An aquarium fish of this species was observed to use a rock as an anvil. The fish was fed pellets that were too hard for it to chew and too large for it to swallow. The fish carried each pellet to a particular rock where it succeeded in breaking the pellet into pieces. It used the same behaviour and the same rock on a number of occasions, demonstrating a capacity for remembering how to solve the hard-pellet problem.[4]
Use in aquariaedit
The sixbar wrasse is sometimes seen in the aquarium trade. It appreciates a large tank with a sandy base and a number of rocks to provide caves and crevices for shelter and hunting. It may move aquarium objects around to discover tubeworms, molluscs and other invertebrates underneath. It will also feed on shrimps, crabs and small fish, bashing larger prey on rocks to break them in pieces. It is capable of jumping out of the aquarium and will submerge itself in the sand when frightened.[5]
Statusedit
The sixbar wrasse is a common species with a wide range. Although sometimes collected for the aquarium trade, this is thought to be of only local significance and no other major threats have been identified, so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".[1]
^ abcdShea, S.; Liu, M.; Sadovy, Y. (2010). "Thalassoma hardwicke". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T187559A8567864. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187559A8567864.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ abBailly, Nicolas (2008). "Thalassoma hardwicke (Bennett, 1830)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
^ abcdFroese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2017). "Thalassoma hardwicke" in FishBase. November 2017 version.
^Bennett, J. W. (1834). A selection from the most remarkable and interesting fishes found on the coast of Ceylon. Edward Bull London.
External linksedit
Photos of Sixbar wrasse on Sealife Collection
January 01, 1970
sixbar, wrasse, sixbar, wrasse, banded, wrasse, thalassoma, hardwicke, species, wrasse, family, labridae, native, indian, ocean, western, pacific, ocean, inhabitant, reef, environments, depths, from, surface, down, this, species, grow, total, length, though, m. The sixbar wrasse or six banded wrasse Thalassoma hardwicke is a species of wrasse in the family Labridae native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean It is an inhabitant of reef environments at depths from the surface down to 15 m 50 ft This species can grow to 20 cm 8 in in total length though most individuals do not exceed 15 cm 6 in It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can also be found in the aquarium trade 3 Sixbar wrasse Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Labriformes Family Labridae Genus Thalassoma Species T hardwicke Binomial name Thalassoma hardwicke J W Bennett 1830 2 Synonyms 2 Sparus hardwicke J W Bennett 1830 Julis schwanenfeldii Bleeker 1853 Thalassoma schwanefeldi Bleeker 1853 Thalassoma schwanenfeldii Bleeker 1853 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 Use in aquaria 5 Status 6 Species description 7 References 8 External linksDescription editThe sixbar wrasse grows to a maximum total length of 20 cm 8 in The dorsal fin has 8 spines and 12 to 14 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 11 soft rays It is a greenish fish with four dark bars on its upper body and two more saddle like bars over the caudal peduncle In larger adults the head has a number of pink streaks radiating from near the eye 3 Distribution and habitat editThe sixbar wrasse is native to the tropical Indo Pacific between 30 N and 32 S 3 Its range extends from East Africa and Madagascar to Japan Indonesia the Philippines northern Australia and various island groups in the Western Pacific It is found on coral reefs reef slopes and in lagoons down to depths of 15 m 50 ft or more 1 Ecology editThe sixbar wrasse is diurnal and has a home range that exceeds 1 000 m2 11 000 sq ft It forms small groups and feeds on planktonic and benthic crustaceans foraminiferans small fish fish eggs and fish larvae Males and females form pairs during the breeding season and at this time males develop a gaudier colour and a black spot in the centre of the caudal fin 1 3 An aquarium fish of this species was observed to use a rock as an anvil The fish was fed pellets that were too hard for it to chew and too large for it to swallow The fish carried each pellet to a particular rock where it succeeded in breaking the pellet into pieces It used the same behaviour and the same rock on a number of occasions demonstrating a capacity for remembering how to solve the hard pellet problem 4 Use in aquaria editThe sixbar wrasse is sometimes seen in the aquarium trade It appreciates a large tank with a sandy base and a number of rocks to provide caves and crevices for shelter and hunting It may move aquarium objects around to discover tubeworms molluscs and other invertebrates underneath It will also feed on shrimps crabs and small fish bashing larger prey on rocks to break them in pieces It is capable of jumping out of the aquarium and will submerge itself in the sand when frightened 5 Status editThe sixbar wrasse is a common species with a wide range Although sometimes collected for the aquarium trade this is thought to be of only local significance and no other major threats have been identified so the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of least concern 1 Species description editThalassoma hardwicke was originally formally described as Sparus hardwicke in 1830 by the English John Whitchurch Bennett 1790 1853 with the type locality given as the south coast of Ceylon 6 The specific name honours Bennett s friend and fellow naturalist Major General Thomas Hardwicke 1756 1835 7 References edit a b c d Shea S Liu M Sadovy Y 2010 Thalassoma hardwicke IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010 e T187559A8567864 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2010 4 RLTS T187559A8567864 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 a b Bailly Nicolas 2008 Thalassoma hardwicke Bennett 1830 WoRMS World Register of Marine Species Retrieved 16 November 2017 a b c d Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2017 Thalassoma hardwicke in FishBase November 2017 version Pasko L 2010 Tool like behavior in the sixbar wrasse Thalassoma hardwicke Bennett 1830 Zoo Biology 29 6 767 773 doi 10 1002 zoo 20307 PMID 20095003 Goemans Bob 2012 Thalassoma hardwicke Bennett 1828 Saltcorner Retrieved 16 November 2017 Eschmeyer William N Fricke Ron amp van der Laan Richard eds Sparus hardwicke Catalog of Fishes California Academy of Sciences Retrieved 1 February 2020 Bennett J W 1834 A selection from the most remarkable and interesting fishes found on the coast of Ceylon Edward Bull London External links editPhotos of Sixbar wrasse on Sealife Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sixbar wrasse amp oldid 1207422302, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
