Castelnau's Wrasse

Dotalabrus aurantiacus

Sea Life Endemic IUCN: Not Evaluated

About

One of the smaller of the wrasse species with three colour phases. Juveniles and females greenish to pale red with five irregular vertical bars on sides and a spot at the rear of the dorsal and anal fins. Males variable in colour, reddish to yellowish brown, orange or greenish, with four broken dark bars on sides, dark margins to the dorsal, anal and caudal fins and dark lines radiating from eye.

Size

Can grow to around 15cm long

Habitat

can be found in seagrass beds and other seaweeds on rocky reefs out to a depth pf around 50m

Distribution

Southern Australia from WA to Victoria including around Tasmania

Local Sightings

1 recorded sighting in and around the area.

References & citations (3)
  1. Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Castelnau's Wrasse, Dotalabrus aurantiacus, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria (accessed 2021-10-30 15:05:43)
  2. The Atlas of Living Australia (accessed 2021-10-30 15:06:24)
  3. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2021). FishBase. Dotalabrus aurantiacus (Castelnau, 1872). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species (accessed 2021-10-30 15:07:09)

Header image: (CC BY-NC 4.0) © Wayne Martin

Disclaimer: A lot of work goes into making sure identifications, descriptions, sizes, habitats and distribution details are as accurate as possible — but this information is ever-changing, so no guarantee is offered that it is correct or currently valid. Treat it as a guide and do a little of your own research for the latest word. Feedback and corrections are always welcome.