Description:

Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 9-10.

A small wrasse, with moderately elongate, slender body and paddle-like truncate to rounded caudal fin. Mouth terminal, 
lips thick, the lower strongly bi-lobed.

Colour: 
Females dark grey to blackish with a black lateral stripe anteriorly, whitish to yellowish posteriorly, with 
curved submarginal band in hind part of caudal fin.
Males deep blue head, body black anteriorly, becoming yellow posteriorly. Caudal fin with a subterminal black cresecent.
Juveniles largely black with narrow bright yellow stripe on back which continues dorsally onto head. 

Maturity: Unknown. Max length: 15.0 cm TL.
 

Inhabits coral rich lagoons and seaward reefs (depth 2-40 m, usually 2-20 m). Exhibits territoriality associated with cleaning 
stations. Feeds on fish mucus and ectoparasites. Juveniles are generally solitary in deep ledges and are rarely seen cleaning. 
Active in the daytime, and may possibly produce a protective mucous cocoon at night. Oviparous. Forms pairs during courtship 
and spawning. 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not subject to the artisanal fishery.
 

Specimen shown here photographed off northwest Mahé.
 

ALA. Labroides bicolor Fowler & Bean, 1928. https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/1d71cb24-c153-4ca8-b2e3-25fde9685457 (15/10/22).  
Bray, D.J. (2020). Labroides bicolor in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2296 (15/10/22). 
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Labroides-bicolor.html (15/10/22). 
Mason-Parker, C. et al. (2021). Labroides bicolor in Reef Fishes of Seychelles. John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd, UK.
Pollard, D. et al. (2010). Labroides bicolor. The IUCN Red List 2010: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187767A8625392.en. (15/10/22).
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds). (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4.

Mason-Parker, C. & Nevill, J.E.G. (2022). Labroides bicolor, Bicolour cleaner wrasse. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/labroides-bicolor-fowler-bean-1928/