Snakeskin wrasse

Snakeskin Wrasse ( Eupetrichthys angustipes )

The Snakeskin Wrasse ( Eupetrichthys angustipes ) is a small wrasse, which is endemic to the Australian south coast. He is the only species of its genus. He lives in Western Australia to New South Wales, in the Bass Strait, the strait that separates Tasmania from the south of Australia, but it is rare. He stays mainly near the coast, in depths up to 40 meters, over boulders and rocks with weak soil algae.

Features

The Snakeskin Wrasse is 15 inches long. The upper half of his covered with large scales, the elongate body is brown to olive green, the underside is pale, usually white, sometimes yellow. The color border runs along the lateral line organ and is very clear. The head is bright and black dots, the body patterned by six broad transverse bands. The transverse bands are brown to black, below the lateral line sometimes light brown or orange. The transverse bands sit in adult males on the dorsal and anal fins are continuous and then reddish. The edges of anal and caudal fins are provided with fine blue lines.

The Snakeskin Wrasse has a characteristic swimming behavior, in which he had often grind the Tail on the floor.