This is the Oxycheilinus unifasciatus or Maori Ringtail Wrasse
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This is a Maori Ringtail Wrasse. The scientific name is Oxycheilinus unifasciatus. The Hawaiian name is puʻou.
Hawaii has 43 species of Wrasse and 18 of them are endemic. This species is not endemic and can be found in the Eastern Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, from Indonesia to Hawaii, Okinawa, French Polynesia, and Australia. They grow to be about 18 inches and is one of the larger species of Wrasse.
They are recognizable by the white ring around the base of the tail and the beautiful orange or blues lines on its face. Their bodies are typically a red to purpleish brown color, but they can make themselves lighter/darker. They have that vibrant yellow stripe that goes from their eye to their pectoral/side fin. The colors can vary between the sexes and the age of the fish. Most wrasse are born female and some transition into male later in life.
They are active during the daytime and sleep in crevices or bury themselves in the sand in the evening.
They are early to bed and late to rise. It is not uncommon to see this fish hovering with its head down a few inches off the bottom. This is a hunting tactic. They are carnivorous and looking for small fish, crustaceans, or echinoderms.
The image above was taken during a Private Ocean Project Maui Snorkel Tour.
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