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| Related FAQs: Maori Wrasses,
Wrasses, Wrasse
Selection, Wrasse Behavior, Wrasse Compatibility, Wrasse
Feeding, Wrasse Diseases,
Related
Articles: The Diversity of Wrasses,
Family Labridae, Cook
Islands Wrasses,
/The Best
Livestock for Your Marine Aquarium
Maori/Splendour
Wrasses, the Genera Cheilinus & (to): Oxycheilinus |
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By Bob Fenner |
See the Maori, Splendour?
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Genus Cheilinus: Eight valid species according to ICLARM.
Older scientific and pet-fish literature may show Oxycheilinus species placed in
this genus. See below.
I like the Europeans choice in common names, "Splendour
Wrasses", for this genus and Oxycheilinus over other nationalities "Maori Wrasses" for them,
in reference to the colorful "scribbling" on some species faces. Cheilinus
labrids are indeed "splendid" all the way around in their color, markings, and
graceful movement, but with a few exceptions all are just too BIG for aquarium use.
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Cheilinus abudjubbe (Ruppell 1835), simply called the Abudjubbe or Adubjubbe’s
(Splendour) Wrasse is one of a handful of wrasses of this genus that are occasionally
shipped out of the Red Sea (2). To about 16" overall length. Now a junior
synonym for Cheilinus trilobatus (see below). Juvenile Tripletail/Abudjubbe's Wrasses
in the Gulf of Aqaba.
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Cheilinus chlorourus (Bloch 1791), the Floral Wrasse (1). Hardy, but not as
good-looking as some of its congeners. To twenty inches long in the wild; much smaller in
captivity. Indo-Pacific out to the Tuamotus. The first one a small juvenile in
Australia, another more adult in Pulau Redang, Malaysia, and one in Fiji.
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| Cheilinus fasciatus, (Bloch
1791), the Redbreasted Wrasse. Indo-Pacific; Red Sea, East Africa to Samoa. To
sixteen inches overall length. Red Sea juvenile and adult. |
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| Cheilinus lunulatus, (Forsskal 1775), The Broomtail
Wrasse. Western Indian Ocean; Red Sea and Gulf of Oman. To twenty inches
in length. Sharm el Sheik photos. |
 
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Cheilinus mentalis Ruppell 1828, the Mental Wrasse.
Western Indian Ocean and Red Sea. To eight inches overall length. Rare in
the western pet-fish trade. Individuals in the Red Sea's Gulf of
Aqaba.
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| Cheilinus oxyrhynchus Bleeker 1862. Western Pacific. |
No pic |
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Cheilinus trilobatus Lacepede 1801, the Tripletail Wrasse (2) we’ll list as it
is occasionally sold in the business. This is another aquarium-tough, medium-shipper that
gets big (about two feet). Indo-Pacific; Red Sea to the Tuamotus. Here are images from the Maldives, Red
Sea and Malaysia.
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Genus Oxycheilinus: More Maori/Splendour Wrasses, Six
valid species
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