STETHOJULIS NOTIALIS - (RANDALL, 2000)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Perciformes (Order) > Labroidei (Suborder) > Labridae (Family) > Stethojulis (Genus)
Labre Fidjien, Fiji Wrasse, Southern wrasse,
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12 (usually: 11); Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11; Pectoral fin rays: 13-14. Max. length: 7.4 cm SL. Depth range: 0 - 6 m.
Color
Initial Phase: green back gradating to pale underside with fine dark regulations; Broad yellow stripe from upper head to upper tail base.
Terminal Phase: similar but with 4 dark barrs on the body and blue/green lines.
Etymology
Stethojulis: from Greek, stetho, stethion = brest or chest + from Greek, julis, original genus of several species Günther moved to Stethojulis. Referring to thoracic scales as large as, or larger, than those on sides.
notialis: from Greek, notos = southern. Referring to its occurrence in the southwestern Pacific.
Original description: Stethojulis notialis Randall, 2000 - Locality type: Suva Bay, Nukulau Island, southwestern corner of island, small bay, Viti Levu, Fiji, South Pacific, depth 0-1 m.
Distribution
Southwestern Pacific: Grande Terre Group (New Caledonia), Norfolk Island, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa.
Biology
This species is demersal and inhabits flats with patchy reefs. It occurs in small groups over algal rubble on semi-open substrate. One of the most maneuverable and rapid swimmers of the Labridae, using rapid beats of the pectoral fins for propulsion.
Similar species
Stethojulis interrupta (Bleeker, 1851) - Reported from Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, South Africa, Persian Gulf, Socotra and Madagascar east to Philippines, New Ireland (Papua New Guinea) and Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rottnest Island (Western Australia) and Montague Island (New South Wales, Australia).
Stethojulis maculata (Schmidt, 1931) - Reported from Western North Pacific: Japan and Fiji. Male terminal phase ressemble Stethojulis notialis.
Stethojulis terina (Jordan & Snyder, 1902) - Reported from Northwestern Pacific.
Last update: 3, July 2022
Labre Fidjien, Fiji Wrasse, Southern wrasse,
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12 (usually: 11); Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11; Pectoral fin rays: 13-14. Max. length: 7.4 cm SL. Depth range: 0 - 6 m.
Color
Initial Phase: green back gradating to pale underside with fine dark regulations; Broad yellow stripe from upper head to upper tail base.
Terminal Phase: similar but with 4 dark barrs on the body and blue/green lines.
Etymology
Stethojulis: from Greek, stetho, stethion = brest or chest + from Greek, julis, original genus of several species Günther moved to Stethojulis. Referring to thoracic scales as large as, or larger, than those on sides.
notialis: from Greek, notos = southern. Referring to its occurrence in the southwestern Pacific.
Original description: Stethojulis notialis Randall, 2000 - Locality type: Suva Bay, Nukulau Island, southwestern corner of island, small bay, Viti Levu, Fiji, South Pacific, depth 0-1 m.
Distribution
Southwestern Pacific: Grande Terre Group (New Caledonia), Norfolk Island, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa.
Biology
This species is demersal and inhabits flats with patchy reefs. It occurs in small groups over algal rubble on semi-open substrate. One of the most maneuverable and rapid swimmers of the Labridae, using rapid beats of the pectoral fins for propulsion.
Similar species
Stethojulis interrupta (Bleeker, 1851) - Reported from Red Sea, Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, South Africa, Persian Gulf, Socotra and Madagascar east to Philippines, New Ireland (Papua New Guinea) and Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rottnest Island (Western Australia) and Montague Island (New South Wales, Australia).
Stethojulis maculata (Schmidt, 1931) - Reported from Western North Pacific: Japan and Fiji. Male terminal phase ressemble Stethojulis notialis.
Stethojulis terina (Jordan & Snyder, 1902) - Reported from Northwestern Pacific.
Last update: 3, July 2022