Red Eye Wrasse

Interesting Info

• The red eye Wrasse is found in the Western Pacific region, which includes parts of Australia. They are often found reefs in the warm waters of the Northern Territory.
• The red eye wrasse is a brilliantly coloured marine fish. The body can be a combination of red, orange, bright blue or purplish-blue. As their name suggests, these wrasse have a prominent red or orange area around their eyes which contrasts with their bright body.
• Red eye wrasses have a varied diet consisting of small benthic invertebrates, including worms, crustaceans, and molluscs. They use their specialised mouth to pluck off these organisms from the substrate.
• Red eye wrasses are known for their active and playful behaviour. They spend a lot of their time swimming around in search of food, interacting with other fish, and exploring their surroundings.
• During the mating display, males undergo a significant colour change, known as “nuptial coloration”. The display includes rapid swimming and color changes, all intended to attract a female’s attention.
• Interestingly, red eye wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites. This means they have the ability to change sex from female to male, usually triggered when there is a shortage of males in the population.
• Estimated lifespan is up to 10 years with a average of 7.