About Halichoeres claudia Randall & Rocha, 2009
Common Name and Taxonomic Placement
Halichoeres claudia, commonly known as the Christmas wrasse, is a species of wrasse belonging to the family Labridae.
Southwestern Pacific Distribution
It is widely distributed across the southwestern Pacific, where it occurs from French Polynesia to the Great Barrier Reef.
Indian Ocean Distribution
Isolated populations of this species can also be found in the Indian Ocean, at Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling.
Previous Taxonomic Classification
For a long time, this species was classified as Halichoeres ornatissimus.
Genetic Distinction from Related Species
However, genetic evidence has shown that H. ornatissimus is only found in Hawaii, while H. claudia is the widespread species found across the western Pacific.
Etymology
The species was named to honor Claudia Rocha for her contributions to the field of ichthyology.
