Wrasses

Wrasses are the most diverse family of reef fish, over 600 species, ranging from the 5-cm cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) to the 2.3-metre Napoleon wrasse (covered separately). Most species are born female and change to male at sex-change tipping points triggered by social cues.

Cleaner wrasses run the reef's cleaning stations, small striped fish that pick parasites off larger predators including mantas, sharks, groupers, and turtles. The 'client-cleaner' relationship is one of the most studied mutualisms in marine biology.

Other common species: rainbow wrasse, yellow-banded possum wrasse, harlequin tuskfish, bird wrasse. Andaman, Maldives, Bali, Red Sea, every destination has 20+ resident wrasse species visible on a single dive.