Maori Wrasse

This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep, its depth 2.3-2.6 times in standard length; dorsal profile of head convex; anterior tip of snout forming an acute angle; jaws prominent, 2 strong canines situated anteriorly in each jaw; no enlarged tooth present of rear of upper jaw. D IX,10, the spines and anterior soft rays of similar length; A III,8; pectoral fins with ii unbranched and 10 branched rays; pelvic fins long, reaching anus in small fish, well beyond in adults; centre of caudal fin rounded in adults, with the upper and lower rays forming elongate lobes giving the fin a trilobed appearance; lateral line interrupted below posterior portion of dorsal-fin base, with a total of 22-23 pored scales; scales reaching well onto bases of dorsal and anal fins; scales in front of dorsal fin extending forward to above centre of eye; cheek and opercle scaly; lower jaw without scales. Colour of the body variably pigmented from green to brown with mottled purple and red markings; 4 vertical dark bars on body that are often indistinct on large individuals; head with numerous small red spots; red lines radiating from anterior and posterior of eye; scales on sides each with a vertical, slightly curved red line; dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins yellow or green with distal red streaks; caudal fin green with a red posterior margin; juveniles with 3-4 dark spots midlaterally on sides and more prominent dark bars. This species capable of rapid colour changes (Ref. 9823).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154). Present in seagrass beds at all life stages (Ref. 41878).

Adults inhabit lagoon and seaward reefs at depths of 1 to over 30 m, and relatively common along shallow reef margins with good coral cover (Ref. 9710). Usually solitary (Ref. 5213). Feed mainly on shelled benthic invertebrates such as mollusks and crustaceans, but occasionally take fishes (Ref. 1602). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Difficult to approach (Ref. 9710). Juveniles secretive on algae reefs and usually around stinging hydrozoans (Ref. 48636).

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

分布於印度-太平洋區，由東非到土木土群島，北至日本琉球與台灣，南至新加勒多尼亞。台灣除西部外，各地海域皆有分布。

中大型之隆頭魚，體色鮮艷，常被當作觀賞魚，亦是高級食用魚，肉質帶有膠質，很適合紅燒。以延繩釣或一支釣較容易上鉤。

體延長而呈長卵圓形；體長為體高的 2.3-2.6倍；頭部自背部至眼上方平直，然後稍凸。口端位或下頜稍突出；上下頜各具錐形齒一列，前端各有一對大犬齒。前鰓蓋骨邊緣具鋸齒，左右鰓膜癒合，不與峽部相逢。體被大形圓鱗，頭部眼上方被鱗。D. IX, 10；A. III, 8；P. 12；L.l. 15-17+7-9；G.R. 4-5+5-7；成魚背鰭與臀鰭延長，達尾鰭基部；腹鰭亦長達肛門之後；尾鰭圓形，成熟雄魚上、下及中葉軟條延長，形成三葉狀。幼魚體白色或淡綠色，吻部淡綠色；體各鱗片具一紅色細橫線，頭部具許多紅色短線及點；體具四條黑色寬橫帶，一條在尾柄上；各鰭與體色相同，體側橫帶延伸至背鰭及臀鰭，尾鰭黑色，基部白色，鰭緣淡紅色。成魚體紅褐色，頭部綠色，體側橫帶較不明顯，各鱗具紅色細橫線，頭部具橙色點及短線；背、臀鰭與體色同，鰭緣紅色，後方延長鰭條紅色，尾鰭黑色，鰭緣紅色，胸鰭黃色。

主要棲息於沿岸珊瑚礁和岩礁區，珊瑚礁海域較多，偶爾可以在海藻堆發現蹤跡。白天出來覓食，以魚類、軟體動物和甲殼類等為食，是肉食性的魚種，晚上會在礁岩下陰暗處休息。

The tripletail wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses.

Occurs in lagoon and seaward reefs at depths of 1 to over 30 m, and relatively common along shallow reef margins (Ref. 1602). Usually solitary (Ref. 5213). Feeds mainly on shelled benthic invertebrates such as molluscs and crustaceans, but occasionally takes fishes (Ref. 1602).