Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Perciformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Labropsis (Genus)

Southern tubelip, Southern tubelip wrasse,

Espèces ressemblantes
Au stade juvénile, il ressemble à :
Diproctacanthus xanthurus (Bleeker, 1856) - Distribution zone ouest et centrale Pacifique. Trois bande noire sur le corps puis au stade adulte la nageoire caudale devient entièrement jaune. La rayure ventrale disparaît pour laisser place à une bande blanche tirant légèrement vers le jaune à proximité de la queue. Taille adulte maximale 10 cm. Zone de répartition de 2 à 20 m.
Labropsis micronesica (Randall, 1981) - Distribution zone ouest et centrale Pacifique mais plus centré vers l'équateur. Juvéniles d'une taille inférieur à 4 cm sont noire avec deux larges bandes blanches sur le corps. Les juvéniles on tendance à chercher une protection au sein des coraux type acropora. Taille adulte maximum 12 cm. Zone de répartition de 7 à 33 m.
Labropsis manabei (Schmidt, 1930) - Distribution Est de l'Océan Indien : Récifs de Scott et Seringapatam (Nord / est Australie). Ouest Pacifique : Japon, Taïwan, Philippines, Papouasie Nouvelle-Guinée et Nord de l'Australie. Taille adulte maximum 10.0 cm SL. Zone de répartition de 5 à 30 m, habituellement de 5 à 20 m.

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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11. Max length : 10.5 cm TL. Depth range 2 - 55 m.
Body moderately slender, its depth 3.2 to 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 or 3 lesser recurved canines on each side. Branchiostegal rays 5. Gill rakers 8. Dorsal fin with IX spines and 12 soft rays; anal fin with III spines and 11 soft rays; pectoral-fin rays 14; caudal fin rounded, principal caudal-fin rays 14 (rarely 15); pectoral fins short, 1.8 to 2.2 times in head length. Lateral line complete, angling sharply downward beneath posterior part of dorsal fin to straight peduncular portion, with 35 to 40 pored scales (plus 2 pored scales on caudal-fin base). Head with small scales on operculum, nape, and partially on suborbital.

Colour
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.

Etymology
Labropsis: from Latin, Labrum = lip + from Ancient Greek, óps = eye, face, appearance.

Distribution
Western Pacific: Solomon Islands, Samoa Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia, Tonga and Great Barrier Reef.

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 Western Central Pacific: Philippines, Palau, Indonesia, New Guinea, and Great Barrier Reef. 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.
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. Depth range: 7 - 33 m.
Labropsis manabei (Schmidt, 1930) - Reported from Eastern Indian Ocean: Scott Reef. Western Pacific: Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. 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.