Cirrhilabrus exquisitus
exquisite fairy wrasse
(Also: exquisite wrasse)

Found from east Africa to the Tuamotu Islands, north towards Japan and in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

The Exquisite Wrasse is predominantly the only species of Wrasse found over its geographic range.

(Randall, 2000; Allen, 2000)

The Exqusite Wrasse is normally found on reef slopes and lagoon habitats that are around ten meters below sea level. They prefer areas that are prone to strong currents.

(Randall, 2000; Allen, 2000)

Color variation, due to geographic differences, is common between the Pacific and Indian Ocean forms. Males and females do not have the same coloring, although females attain the ability to change sex during their lifetime. When the female changes sex, her coloring and markings change into that of the male. The females are usually olive or reddish-brown in color with dark and light stripes that run along the sides of the body. A blue stripe is present on the posterior side of the female's body and dark spots are located on the underside of the fins. The males are more colorful and have bright red areas on the dorsal and pectoral fins. The younger forms do not differ greatly from the adults, but are distinguishable from the adults because they have a white spot on their nose.

(Randall, 2000; Allen, 2000)

The Exquisite Wrasse is normally found in small or fairly large schools. During courtship, the male Wrasse displays his purple markings. These markings serve as a multi-functional characteristic. While the male is courting any number of females, he can display these colors to other males to warn them not to take these females away from him.

In order to protect itself from predators during the night while it sleeps, the Wrasse uses its carnivorous front teeth to burrow into the sand, creating a little hollow in the sea floor. This protects it from predators who do not look on the ocean floor for their food.

(Shaws, 1999; Wells, 1999; Stevenson, 1999; Randall, 2000; Allen, 2000)

Cirrhilabrus exquisitus is a carnivorous fish. It has a unique, sharp, tooth-like appendage enclosed in its mouth that is used to eat its larger prey which is primarily mollusks. In order to get through the hard shell, the Wrasse uses its sharp tooth to break the shell open. Its food also includes zooplankton, rotifers and copepods. Since these organisms are much smaller, the Exquisite Wrasse must filter these foods from the water.

(Shaws, 1999; Wells, 1999; Stevenson, 1999; Taggart, 1992)

Cirrhilabrus exquisitus has an extremely unpleasant taste. Therefore it is not naturally hunted for food by humans.

(Allen, 2000; Randall, 2000)

The Exquisite Wrasse is an extremely interesting fish for scientists to study because of its ability to change sex mid-life.

(Allen, 2000; Randall, 2000)

The Exquisite Wrasse is already a rare fish to see, and now its habitat is being destroyed. The pollution accumulated by toxic wastes deposited into the oceans has created a habitat that is not well suited for the Wrasse. Since the Wrasse lives close to shore, it is subjected to denser deposits of toxic wastes.

(Shaws, 1999; Stevenson, 1999; Wells, 1999)

The Exquisite Wrasse moves in schools where there are only one or two dominant males. If these males are removed, the largest female quickly changes sex and becomes the dominant male. In order to change sex, the female cuts down its supply of estrogen. This process insures that offspring will always be produced.

(Allen, 2000; Randall, 2000)