Description:

Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 12.

Elongate and compressed wrasse. 2 pairs of anterior canines. Caudal fin emarginate (slightly rounded in juveniles).

Colour. Initial phase (pictured above) brown to olive brown with 17-19 dark brown bars, a blue and black spot on opercular membrane. Dark spot on side of lips (spot larger 
on lower lip). Caudal fin with a large whitish crescent posteriorly.

Terminal males. Body green shading to bluish-green ventrally. Numerous bluish-red bars on flanks, and often with a pale yellowish bar on body above origin of anal fin. 
Head light purplish with green to blue-green bands radiating from eye, one forward onto snout expanding broadly and branching.  

Juvenile pale body and head and broad dark stripe from posterior of operculum through caudal fin.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 40cm TL.

Inhabits coral reefs in areas of sand and rubble of clear lagoon and seaward reef slopes (Depth 3-30m). Mainly feeds on fish and crustaceans to a lesser extent. Juveniles 
remain near bottom, adults are benthopelagic. Pelagic spawner.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap and hand line fisheries, but is a very rare component of the catch.

Fishes of Australia. Hologymnosus annulatus, http://136.154.202.208/home/species/246 (22/03/20).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5637 (05/06/19).
Yeeting, B. (2010). Hologymnosus annulatus. The IUCN Red List 2010: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187698A8604779.en. (22/03/20).
 

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Hologymnosus annulatus, Ring wrasse. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/hologymnosus-annulatus-lacepede-1801/ (edited 12/07/22).