Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Labridae (Wrasses) > Corinae
Etymology: Cheilio: Greek, chanos, -eos, ous, and chasma, -atos = abyss, mouth opened, inmensity + Latin, muraena = morey eel (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 1602), usually 2 - 30 m (Ref. 27115). Tropical; 24°C - 27°C (Ref. 27115), preferred ?; 32°N - 36°S, 24°E - 109°W
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian and Easter islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9823); common length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 9;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 12-13;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 11 - 12. Young individuals are usually a mottled brown or green, sometimes with a broad lateral stripe (Ref. 1602). Rare individuals may be uniformly yellow (Ref. 1602). Coloration in this fish is variable: green, brown, orange-brown or yellow, often with narrow, midlateral, broken black stripe which are absent in large males (Ref. 86689). Large males may develop a bright yellow, orange, black, white, or multicolored patch on their sides behind their pectoral fins (Ref. 1602).
Inhabit seagrass beds and algal-covered flats, occasionally in lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of at least 30 m (Ref. 1602, 41878, 48636). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Usually solitary. Juveniles secretive in seagrasses or attached Sargassum; adults usually in small loose aggregations, but occasionally form large schools to spawn (Ref. 48636). Feed mainly on crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins (Ref. 37816) and other hard-shelled prey. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p. (Ref. 2334)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00417 (0.00255 - 0.00682), b=3.09 (2.95 - 3.23), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.54 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High vulnerability (58 of 100) .
