Distribution:
Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific.
Habitat:
Most species are sand burrowers.
Remarks:
Wrasses are one of the most diversified of all fish families due to their shape, color, and size. Many species have a variety of color patterns, and they are notably colorful and popular for aquariums. These fishes are quite harmless and feed on benthic invertebrates (crustaceans, squids, sea-bottom organisms). Both males and females can change their sex and color with growth, although the males tend to dominate the females. A majority have a peculiar habit of burying themselves in sand at night. All members of this family use labriform locomotion and primarily use their pectoral fins for swimming.
Length ranges from 4.5 cm to 2.3 m.
There are 68 genera and 453 species.
References:
Nelson 2006; FishBase 2008