Description:

Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 13-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 12-13.

Moderately full-bodied, small wrasse.

Juveniles are blackish to dark brown with bright yellow-white stripes and a large yellow ringed ocelli in the middle of the dorsal fin with a luminescent white spot dorsally 
either side of it.

Females are (a sometimes reddish) brown with darker narrow stripes along the sides, a black, yellow-edged ocellus on the middle of the dorsal fin and a greenish margin on 
the caudal fin.

Terminal males orange brown with a blue edged green spot on each scale forming longitudinal lines. Caudal fin greenish yellow with a blue edged orange red crescent containing 
small blue spots. No ocelli in dorsal fin.
 

Size:

Maturity: Lm 7cm TL. Range unknown. Max Length: 18cm TL.

Habitat and Ecology:

Inhabit a wide range of shallow reef habitats (depth 0-30 m). In Seychelles juveniles can readily be seen sheltering near crevices in shallow coastal rock formations. Feed 
on a wide variety of small invertebrates as well as fish eggs. Pelagic spawner. Some females change sex after spawning. Solitary or in small groups.
 

Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It does not appear to be caught artisanal fishery, likely being too small to be subject to existing techniques.

Notes:

Bray, D.J. (2018). Halichoeres marginatus in Fishes of Australia, http://136.154.202.208/home/species/2291 (24/03/20).
Choat, J.H. (2010). Halichoeres marginatus. The IUCN Red List 2010: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187382A8519431.en.  Downloaded on (24/03/20).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2020). FishBase. Halichoeres marginatus Rüppell, 1835. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5631 (24/03/20)
Randall, J.E. (1986). Labridae. p. 683-706. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

References:

Nevill, J.E.G. (2020). Halichoeres marginatus, Dusky wrasse. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/halichoeres-marginatus-ruppell-1835/ (edited 11/07/22).   

Citation: