LABROPSIS AUSTRALIS - (RANDALL, 1981)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Labriformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Labropsis (Genus)
Southern tubelip, Southern tubelip wrasse, 澳洲褶唇魚,
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Pectoral fin rays: 14; Caudal fin rounded, principal caudal-fin rays: 14 (rarely: 15); Pectoral fins short: 1.8-2.2 times in head length. Lateral line complete, angling sharply downward beneath posterior part of dorsal fin to straight peduncular portion, with 35-40 pored scales (plus 2 pored scales on caudal-fin base). Head with small scales on operculum, nape, and partially on suborbital. Branchiostegal rays: 5. Gill rakers: 8. Body moderately slender, its depth: 3.2-3.5 times in standard length. Dorsal profile of head convex, profile of snout of terminal males usually markedly convex, thus forming an indentation with the horizontally projecting lips. Mouth terminal, small (maxilla not reaching a vertical at anterior margin of orbit), the gape horizontal or slightly oblique; Lips very thick and fleshy, plicate externally and internally, forming a short tubular structure when closed (truncate anteriorly with a round opening). Upper jaw with two pairs of large recurved canines anteriorly, the second pair about 1/2 as large as the first, and a canine (rarely 2) posteriorly on jaw (extending forward from corner of mouth); Lower jaw with a pair of recurved anterior canines followed by 2-3 lesser recurved canines on each side. Max. length: 10.5 cm TL. Depth range: 2 - 55 m.
Color
Initial phase body yellowish with 3 blotchy dark brown stripes; An indistinct reddish area anterior to eye; Scales with brown edges; Dorsal, caudal, and anal fins brownish with a pale blue margin; Dorsal fin with narrow dark spot on second spine; Pectoral fins pale with a large black spot at base rimmed with orange spots dorsally and ventrally; Pelvic fins dark; Inside of mouth blue.
Small females and juveniles have 3 broad dark stripes on head and body separated by narrower pale yellow stripes.
Males brown, centres of scales orange, particularly in centre of body, the lips, chin, and throat dark brown to purple; Median fins dark brown with blue distal margins; A black spot usually present anteriorly on dorsal fin; Pectoral fins pale with a large round black spot with yellow centre at base and extending anterior to base; Pelvic fins blue with an orange band on first 2 soft rays.
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Southern tubelip, Southern tubelip wrasse, 澳洲褶唇魚,
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Pectoral fin rays: 14; Caudal fin rounded, principal caudal-fin rays: 14 (rarely: 15); Pectoral fins short: 1.8-2.2 times in head length. Lateral line complete, angling sharply downward beneath posterior part of dorsal fin to straight peduncular portion, with 35-40 pored scales (plus 2 pored scales on caudal-fin base). Head with small scales on operculum, nape, and partially on suborbital. Branchiostegal rays: 5. Gill rakers: 8. Body moderately slender, its depth: 3.2-3.5 times in standard length. Dorsal profile of head convex, profile of snout of terminal males usually markedly convex, thus forming an indentation with the horizontally projecting lips. Mouth terminal, small (maxilla not reaching a vertical at anterior margin of orbit), the gape horizontal or slightly oblique; Lips very thick and fleshy, plicate externally and internally, forming a short tubular structure when closed (truncate anteriorly with a round opening). Upper jaw with two pairs of large recurved canines anteriorly, the second pair about 1/2 as large as the first, and a canine (rarely 2) posteriorly on jaw (extending forward from corner of mouth); Lower jaw with a pair of recurved anterior canines followed by 2-3 lesser recurved canines on each side. Max. length: 10.5 cm TL. Depth range: 2 - 55 m.
Color
Initial phase body yellowish with 3 blotchy dark brown stripes; An indistinct reddish area anterior to eye; Scales with brown edges; Dorsal, caudal, and anal fins brownish with a pale blue margin; Dorsal fin with narrow dark spot on second spine; Pectoral fins pale with a large black spot at base rimmed with orange spots dorsally and ventrally; Pelvic fins dark; Inside of mouth blue.
Small females and juveniles have 3 broad dark stripes on head and body separated by narrower pale yellow stripes.
Males brown, centres of scales orange, particularly in centre of body, the lips, chin, and throat dark brown to purple; Median fins dark brown with blue distal margins; A black spot usually present anteriorly on dorsal fin; Pectoral fins pale with a large round black spot with yellow centre at base and extending anterior to base; Pelvic fins blue with an orange band on first 2 soft rays.
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Etymology
Labropsis: from Latin, Labrum = lip + from Ancient Greek, óps = eye, face, appearance. Referring to similarity to Labrichthys and Labroides.
australis: from Latin, auster = south + from Latin suffix, -ālis = southern. Referring to southern location of islands where it has been taken, all lying between latitudes 9° and 23.5°S.
Original description: Labropsis australis Randall, 1981 - Type locality: outside reef, western side of One Tree Island, Capricorn Group, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, depth 90 feet.
Distribution
Western Pacific: Papua New Guinea east to Tonga and Samoa, south to Great Barrier Reef (Queensland, Australia) and New Caledonia.
Biology
Inhabits shallow reef areas with high coral cover. Adults feed on coral polyps while juveniles take ectoparasites and possibly mucus of other reef fishes. This species is targeted for the aquarium trade.
Similar species
Diproctacanthus xanthurus (Bleeker, 1856) - Reported from New Caledonia. Juveniles with 3 broad black stripes from head to caudal fin where the stripes merge; With growth, lower stripe disappears, upper stripe is less distinct; Black caudal fin becomes entirely yellow in adults. Head scales small. Lips thick and fleshy, forming a short tube when mouth is closed. Caudal fin rounded to truncate; Pelvic fins rounded. Max. length: 10.0 cm TL. Depth range: 2 - 25 m
Labropsis micronesica (Randall, 1981) - Reported from Western Central Pacific: Belau, Caroline, Mariana and Marshall Islands. Juveniles under 40 mm are black with two broad white stripes. Juveniles usually associate with ramose Acropora corals to gain protection from the branches. The species engage in cleaning activities usually with small fishes such as damselfishes. Max. length: 12.0 cm TL. Depth range: 7 - 33 m.
Labropsis manabei (Schmidt, 1930) - Reported from Western Pacific and southeastern Indian Ocean: Western Australia, Indonesia to Philippines, Ryukyu Islands and Ogasawara Islands (Japan). Body of male orangish in life; Large females similar in body color with males except for the absence of the large orange area beneath and around the pectoral fin base and the black spot on the dorsal fin. Inconspicuous stripes on head of females; Juveniles and small females with 3 broad black stripes on head and body, separated by narrow pale blue stripes. Max. length: 10.0 cm SL, common length: 7.0 cm SL. Depth range: 5 - 30 m, usually: 5 - 20 m.
Last update: 17, March 2023
Labropsis: from Latin, Labrum = lip + from Ancient Greek, óps = eye, face, appearance. Referring to similarity to Labrichthys and Labroides.
australis: from Latin, auster = south + from Latin suffix, -ālis = southern. Referring to southern location of islands where it has been taken, all lying between latitudes 9° and 23.5°S.
Original description: Labropsis australis Randall, 1981 - Type locality: outside reef, western side of One Tree Island, Capricorn Group, Great Barrier Reef, Australia, depth 90 feet.
Distribution
Western Pacific: Papua New Guinea east to Tonga and Samoa, south to Great Barrier Reef (Queensland, Australia) and New Caledonia.
Biology
Inhabits shallow reef areas with high coral cover. Adults feed on coral polyps while juveniles take ectoparasites and possibly mucus of other reef fishes. This species is targeted for the aquarium trade.
Similar species
Diproctacanthus xanthurus (Bleeker, 1856) - Reported from New Caledonia. Juveniles with 3 broad black stripes from head to caudal fin where the stripes merge; With growth, lower stripe disappears, upper stripe is less distinct; Black caudal fin becomes entirely yellow in adults. Head scales small. Lips thick and fleshy, forming a short tube when mouth is closed. Caudal fin rounded to truncate; Pelvic fins rounded. Max. length: 10.0 cm TL. Depth range: 2 - 25 m
Labropsis micronesica (Randall, 1981) - Reported from Western Central Pacific: Belau, Caroline, Mariana and Marshall Islands. Juveniles under 40 mm are black with two broad white stripes. Juveniles usually associate with ramose Acropora corals to gain protection from the branches. The species engage in cleaning activities usually with small fishes such as damselfishes. Max. length: 12.0 cm TL. Depth range: 7 - 33 m.
Labropsis manabei (Schmidt, 1930) - Reported from Western Pacific and southeastern Indian Ocean: Western Australia, Indonesia to Philippines, Ryukyu Islands and Ogasawara Islands (Japan). Body of male orangish in life; Large females similar in body color with males except for the absence of the large orange area beneath and around the pectoral fin base and the black spot on the dorsal fin. Inconspicuous stripes on head of females; Juveniles and small females with 3 broad black stripes on head and body, separated by narrow pale blue stripes. Max. length: 10.0 cm SL, common length: 7.0 cm SL. Depth range: 5 - 30 m, usually: 5 - 20 m.
Last update: 17, March 2023