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Bluehead wrasse

Thalassoma bifasciatum

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Fun Facts

This species of fish travel in schools of thousands, foraging for food. 

Species Type:

Fishes

Common Name(s):

Bluehead wrasse

Size:

These fish reach a maximum length of 9.8 inches (25 centimeters).

Diet:

Bluehead wrasses feed mainly on plankton and small benthic invertebrates. They will also eat the eggs of other small fishes.

Range & Habitat:

In the western Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, the bluehead wrasse inhabits coral reefs, rocky flats, seagrass meadows and sandy bottom areas.

Details:

Bluehead wrasses’ color patterns vary based on their age and environment. They get their name from the final stage of life when they have blue heads and tails, yellow bodies and black and white stripes near their gills.