American Samoa Territorial Fish
Humpback Wrasse (common name) Cheilinus undulatus(scientific name) Overview One of the largest reef fishes, the greenish-blue humpback wrasse is distinguished by its size, its thick lips, and a prominent hump on its forehead. Males are larger than females. Using its tough teeth, this very large wrasse can consume hard-shelled species. Close-up STATUS Unofficial PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: Up to 6 ft (1.8 m) Weight: Up to 190 lbs (86 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 30 years HABITAT Adults forage on the reef during the day and rest in reef caves and under coral ledges in the evening. They inhabit particular territories of outer reef slopes and drop-offs up to 330 feet (100 m) in depth. Range: The Indian Ocean and South Pacific from Egypt to Mozambique and Japan to Australia. Water type: Saltwater Water temp: 79–86°F (26–30°C) Conservation Status: Endangered. Threatened by the live fish trade, commercial fishing, and the degradation of coral reef habitats from pollution, sediment, and global warming. Conservation efforts are underway in the Marianas Archipelago, and commercial fishing bans are widespread. DIET Fish (including boxfish), clams, sea urchins, sea hares, and starfish (including the notorious crown of thorns starfish, which is very large and covered with venomous spines). REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: Year-round, coinciding with phases of the tidal cycle. Mating behavior: : Distinct pairing but pairs spawn together as parts of communal groups of up to 100 individual fish. Egg laying: Spawns in warm ocean currents and eggs sink to the ocean floor. Adults do not guard the eggs or young. USES Commercial fish, aquarium fish. OTHER NAMES Napoleon wrasse, Napoleon fish, giant wrasse, Maori wrasse, undulate wrasse, truck wrasse, humphead. TRIVIA The humpback wrasse is a hermaphrodite that changes in body form, color, and sex during its lifetime, although the factors that trigger these changes are not known. Despite or perhaps because of its endangered status, the humpback wrasse is considered a luxury food item in East Asia, where it can command a price of over $30,000 per fish. The wrasse is traditionally hunted by spearfishing in the South Pacific and therefore has cultural importance to some Pacific countries. This practice is generally banned now due to the depletion of the species.
	Click to enlarge an image Humpback Wrasse Large Humpback Wrasse Close up of Humpback Wrasse CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Labridae Genus: Cheilinus Species: C. undulatus
	Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press