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.