WRASSES
LABRIDAE
Creole Wrasse
Clepticus parrae
    Ecological Descriptors
Habitat Size (cm) Diet Behaviour Sex 
Pel 30 Pla Sh PGH
 
 
General:
Most wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, with some Initial Phase (IP) females, turning into Terminal Phase (TP) males once they reach a certain size. Those individuals who remain female in TP, retain the markings of IP. Juveniles often have the same colouration as IP females.

Description
:
Terminal Phase of male: When breeding, with head, body, pectorals, pelvics and front 1/2 of dorsal fin blackish - rear 1/2 of body, anal, and tail base with an
orange wash. Tail light purple.
Initial Phase/ Terminal Phase Females: Head, body and fins
violet to purple. Snout black.
Juvenile: Purplish with a series of
white & black blotches in a row along upper back. Has a black blotch at front of dorsal fin.

Ecology
Inhabits seaward reef slopes and is most common at depths of 10-30m (30-100ft), occasionally on shallow patch reefs. .  In contrast to other Wrasses, the Creole Wrasse feeds on animal plankton. This involved a reduction of the teeth: the mouth as well as the teeth are very small. Found in large midwater aggregations feeding on plankton, small jellyfishes, pteropods, pelagic tunicates and various invertebrate larvae.

Life Cycle
:
Protogynous hermaphrodite with length at sex change ~16cm. Form leks during breeding. In the initial phase during the life cycle of the creole wrasse, all are females, at 15-18cm in length, they change to males, also assuming their terminal phase coloration. Mating usually occurs in the mid afternoon and is not seasonal. The male and female court, and spawn in the water column. Once fertilization is successful, the eggs hatch and the larvae enter the pelagic stage of the life cycle, where they continue being larvae until large enough to settle on the reef.
Creole Wrasse TP Breeding Male
Creole Wrasse
Juvenile
Creole Wrasse
IP/ TP Female
Creole Wrasse TP Breeding Male
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