Common Name: Seagrass Wrasse

Distribution: Rare in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Distributed throughout the Indo-west Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to New Guinea, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Lord Howe Island. In Australia recorded from northern Western Australia and northern New South Wales, reported as far south as Jervis Bay in New South Wales.

Ecological Notes: Frequents shallow areas with seagrass in protected bays and lagoons. Depth from 3 – 25 m.

Additional Notes: Adults usually bright green, juveniles varying from brown to green usually with a blotched pattern. Juveniles similar to Eupetrichthys angustipes but without banding and with distinct ocellus on first dorsal fin. Secretive, effective camouflage ensures it is rarely seen. Grows to 16 cm.

References: Kuiter, R. H., Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Published by Crawford House Press Pty. Ltd., 1993. p.295.

Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=novaculoides+macrolepidotus. Accessed 26/05/18.

FishBase. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. World Wide Web electronic publication. https://fishbase.ca/summary/Novaculichthys-macrolepidotus.html. Accessed 26/05/18.