Description:

Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 8.
Medium-sized, moderately deep-bodied wrasse. Convex dorsal head profile. Jaws prominent with 2 strong canines situated anteriorly in each jaw. Pelvic fins long, 
reaching well beyond anus in adults. Caudal fin rounded, in adults the upper and lower rays form elongate lobes giving the tri-lobed “tripletail” appearance.
Colour. Green body with orange-yellow hue grading darker posteriorly to olive green. Background broad dark barring on body fades as adults mature. Scales on flanks 
with a vertical, slightly curved red line. Head, opercle and anterior ventral surface with small red to orange spots. Red to orange lines radiating anteriorly 
from eye. Peduncle and caudal fin with broad dark and pale banding. 
Dorsal, anal and caudal fins with red margins. Juveniles with 3-4 dark spots mid-laterally on sides and more prominent dark bars.
 

Size:

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 45cm TL.

Habitat and Ecology:

Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs (depth 1-30m), common along shallow reef margins with good coral cover. Juveniles found on algal reefs 
around stinging hydrozoans. Feeds on hard-shelled benthic invertebrates, including sea urchins, molluscs, crustaceans and occasionally small fishes.
Usually solitary. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding.
 

Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery, where it is a moderately frequent 
but not numerous component of the catch. 

Notes:

 

 

References:

Allen, G.R. et al. (2010). Cheilinus trilobatus. The IUCN Red List 2010: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T154623A4590807.en.  (28/02/20).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Cheilinus-trilobatus.html (04/06/19). 
Randall, J.E. (1986). Labridae. p. 683-706. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

Citation:

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Cheilinus trilobatus, Tripletail wrasse. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/cheilinus-trilobatus-lacepede-1801/ (edited 09/07/22).