Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae1

Family Labridae

• Wrasses• Common species:

o Tautog (Tautoga onitis)o Slippery Dick

(Halichoeres bivittatus)o Pearly Razorfish

(Hemipteronotus novacula)

o Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus)

Hogfish

Slippery Dick

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae2

Labrid Body Types

• The family is characterized by several body types

• All have unifying characteristics:

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae3

Labrid Characteristics

• Most spp. are protogynous hermaphrodites

• Swim using pectoral fins in a flapping jerky motiono Labriform

swimming

• Labrids are brightly colored with diurnal feeding habitso Have well-developed

pharyngeal jaws o Some spp. are cleaners

removing ectoparasites

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae4

Cleaning Behavior

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae5

Cleaning Stations

• Mutualistic relationships commonly found on coral reefs

• Territorial in nature, occupying well-defined coral heads and other prominent locales

• Numerous host spp. are serviced

• Parasites and necrotic tissue is removed

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae6

Open up and say Ahhh...

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae7

Bluehead Wrasse

• One of the most common reef fish in the Western Atlantic• A terminal male maintains a large harem for reproduction

Terminal Phase Male

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae9

Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus)

• Unlike most wrasses hogfish can become quite large (25 pounds)

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae10

Family Scaridae

• Parrotfishes• Common species:

o Blue Parrotfish (Scarus coeruleus)o Stoplight Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride)o Queen Parrotfish (Scarus vetula)

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae11

Scaridae Characteristics

• Appear as heavy bodied wrasseso Teeth are fused to the jaw resembling a parrot-

like beak

• Rove the reef during the day (feeding) and hide in caves a crevices at night

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae12

Scarid Feeding

• Usually herbivores, feed (with fused jaws) on algae which occurs on dead corals

• Coral passes through the pharyngeal teeth creating sand as a waste product

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae13

I feel five pounds lighter!

Blue Parrotfish

Labridae, Scaridae & Mugilidae14

A Mucus Negligee

Queen Parrotfish

Atherinidae thru Syngnathidae15

Family Mugilidae

• Mullets• Common species:

o Striped Mullet (Mugil cephalus)

Atherinidae thru Syngnathidae16

Mugilidae Characteristics

• Characterized by thick streamlined bodies, forked caudal fin, and two widely separate dorsal fins

• Feed largely on detritus and algal cells

• The digestive tract is 5-8x as long as the body to absorb the needed nutrients

Atherinidae thru Syngnathidae17

Mullets

• Seen frequently jumping from the watero Possible predator avoidance or low oxygen

response