Seagrass wrasse

The seagrass wrasse (Novaculoides macrolepidotus) is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It can be found in lagoons and mangrove forests in seagrass beds or on sandy areas with plentiful algal growth. It occurs at depths from the surface to 10 m (33 ft). This species grows to 16 cm (6.3 in) in total length. It can be found in the aquarium trade. This species is the only known member of its genus.^[2] The juveniles and smaller adults of this species are Batesian mimics of the venomous waspfish in the genus Ablabys. When threatened, these fish dive headfirst into the sea grass or sea weed beds they inhabit.^[3]

Seagrass wrasse
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Labriformes
Family:	Labridae
Tribe:	Novaculini
Genus:	Novaculoides J. E. Randall & Earle, 2004
Species:	N. macrolepidotus
Binomial name
Novaculoides macrolepidotus (Bloch, 1791)
Synonyms[2]
Labrus macrolepidotus Bloch, 1791 Novaculichthys macrolepidotus (Bloch, 1791) Labrus arago Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 Julis trimaculata Valenciennes, 1839 Novacula julioides Bleeker, 1851