Cheilinus lunulatus (Forsskål, 1775)

Scientific and Common Name

Cheilinus lunulatus, commonly called the broomtail wrasse, reaches an average body length of about 35 cm (14 in), with males growing to a maximum length of 50 cm (20 in).

Head and Lip Features

Adult individuals have a large bright green head covered in small spots, and large blue lips.

Fin Coloration

Their pectoral fins are yellow, while their abdominal, anal, and caudal fins are dark blue.

Body Coloration

The middle section of the body is yellow-green, and the rest of the body is dark purple.

Operculum Marking

A characteristic bright yellow marking on a black background is located near the operculum.

Caudal Fin Characteristics

This species has a long fringed caudal fin that resembles an old broom, which gives the fish its common name, or the tail of a crowntail betta.

Female and Juvenile Markings

Females and juveniles display large dark stripes along their flanks.

Diet and Reproduction

This wrasse feeds mainly on molluscs and other hard-shelled invertebrates, and it is an oviparous species.

Distribution Range

This species' distribution ranges from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Oman, and it occurs mainly near Djibouti, Eritrea, the Seychelles, and Somalia.

Related Species

In the Indo-Pacific region, this species is replaced by its close relative Cheilinus trilobatus.

Habitat and Depth Range

Broomtail wrasses inhabit coral reefs and adjacent sand and seagrass habitats, at depths between 2 and 30 m (6.6 to 98.4 ft).