Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Labriformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Macropharyngodon (Genus)

Labre à points jaune, Black leopard wrasse, Black wrasse, Negros wrasse, Yellowspotted wrasse, Sejiro-nodogurobera, セジロノドグロベラ, 은하수놀래기, 胸斑大咽齒魚,

Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11; Pectoral fin rays: 12; Gill rakers: 14-18; Anterior lateral line scales: 2-3 pores; Depth of body: 2.67-2.94 in SL; Vertebrae: 25. Third dorsal spine shorter than fifth and sixth spines (spines generally progressively longer, though some adjacent spines nearly equal); pelvic fins mayor may not reach anus. Max length: 12.0 cm TL. Depth range: 8 - 32 m.

Color
Juveniles (28 mm in SL): are colored much like the females except the approximate upper half of the body is pale yellowish with a broad wavy line of demarcation from the dark ventral part of the body. A 17mm one from the Marshalls is similar, but has a black spot on penultimate interradial membrane of the dorsal fin.
Females: black with faint iridescent blue-green spots on body (one to three per scale); Large spots of light yellow antero-dorsally on body and on head; Pale areas on back light yellow with small orange blotches; Dorsal fin light yellow with irregular lines of black and dusky orange except distally, those of black forming a coarse reticulum; Anal fin black with a blue margin; Caudal fin whitish with faint orange red dots on rays forming vertical bands, these more evident basally on whitish part of fin; Pectoral fins clear, the rays edged with pink; Pelvic fins black.
Males: black, the scale edges blue-green, the pale areas on back, bands on head, and light zones of dorsal fin light yellow; Dark bands on head reddish (especially dorsally); Broad outer zone of soft portion of dorsal fin dusky reddish except for a narrow whitish margin and dark brown submarginal line; A row of blue-green spots along base of anal fin, the margin bright blue; Large pale portion of caudal fin whitish with dots of orange-red on rays forming vertical bands except distally; Pectoral rays yellowish with pink margins, membranes clear, the dark bar at base black.

Etymology
Macropharyngodon: from Greek, makros = great + from Greek, pharynx = pharynx + from Greek, odous = teeth. Referring to posterior canine teeth on upper jaw.
negrosensis: from type locality, Negros, Philippines.
Original description: Macropharyngodon negrosensis Herre, 1932 - Type locality: Dumaguete, Oriental Negros, Philippines.

Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Andaman Sea, Christmas Island and Indonesia, east to Marshall Islands and Samoa, north to Ryukyu Islands and Ogasawara Islands (Japan), south to northern Australia and New Caledonia. 

Biology
Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs, in areas of mixed sand and coral. Post pelagic juveniles carried by currents beyond their normal breeding range. They are often in pairs or small loose groups, swimming close to the bottom. When approached, they move up and down in an unusual way that may worry a possible predator. Adults move about in small groups.

Last update: 29, August 2024