Threespot Wrasse

Light greenish to yellowish on back, white below; scale rims pink to blackish; a black spot is at the upper base of the pectoral fin; another black spot about equal to eye diameter is at the upper base of the caudal peduncle.

Bi-directional sex change has been confirmed for this species (Ref. 103751). Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 10 - 11

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154).

Inhabits sandy areas of reef flats, lagoons, and semi-protected seaward reefs. Juveniles shallow in protected coastal waters; adults to about 30 m depth (Ref. 48636). Feeds on sand and rubble dwelling invertebrates (crustaceans, mollusks, forams, polychaetes, fish eggs, and small fishes). Has the habit of following sand-disturbing fishes such as goatfishes in order to intercept escaping prey. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874.

aquarium: commercial

分布於印度-太平洋區，由聖誕島到萊恩、杜夕群島，北至日本琉球與台灣海域，南至羅得豪等。台灣各地岩礁海域皆有分布。

中小型之隆頭魚，體色鮮豔，是適合水族觀賞的魚類，亦可食用。臺灣四周岩岸海域都可發現牠的蹤影，為常見珊瑚礁中的魚種。

體延長，側扁。吻較長，尖突。前鼻孔具短管。口小；上頜有犬齒四枚，外側兩枚向後方彎曲。前鰓蓋後緣具鋸齒；鰓蓋膜常與峽部相連。體被中大圓鱗，胸部鱗片小於體側，鰓蓋上方有一小簇鱗片；眼下方或後方無鱗。D. IX, 11；A. III,11；P. 14-15(14)；L.l. 27。體色隨性別與個體而異，雌魚體淡黄色，腹面白色，頭上半部淡綠色，眼前具二條紅色的縱紋，眼下具一條紅縱紋，眼後具數條紅斑列，尾柄上側有一不顯之大眼斑；雄魚頭及體上半部淡綠色，頭部具如雌魚般的紅紋，眼後紅斑列較多，且沿鰓蓋骨緣往下延伸至喉峽部，體側各鱗具稍深色的橫紋，從胸鰭至腹部具一斜紅紋，尾柄上側有一明顯的大眼斑，胸鰭上方有另一小眼斑。

主要棲息於珊瑚礁平台的外緣沙地上、潟湖區風平浪靜的向海礁坡，以及食物豐盛的海藻床區。以藏身在砂地或小圓石地的無脊椎動物，如甲殼類、軟體類、多毛蟲、有孔蟲以及魚卵等為食；而且也會趁機追擊被秋姑魚攪動出的小獵物，是逃亡獵物的終結者。生性大方的它們有時甚至尾隨潛水員找尋被大蛙腳翻動過的沙泥地，撿現成的食物。具性轉變的行為，是屬於先雌後雄型的型態。