479
12 Species Case Studies
12.13.1 General
The humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus Rüppell, is the biggest labrid in the
world and one of the largest bony fi shes found on coral reefs (Fig. 12.31 ). A review
Sadovy et al. ( 2003b ) reports a maximum reported total length (TL) of over 200 cm
(perhaps as much as 250 cm) with weights of 191 kg. However, lengths greater than
about 150 cm are only rarely observed (Choat et al. 2006 ) . It is a member of the
charismatic reef megafauna, which includes sharks, turtles and large reef fi shes.
Large males with their notably bulbous heads are high on the list of nearly every tourist diver as a “must see” (Fig. 12.31a ) and this feature (as well as large size and similar name) occasionally causes it to be confused with the bumphead parrotfi sh,
Bolbometopon muricatum (where both sexes have bulbous heads) by uninformed
divers. The prominent cephalic hump occurs in both sexes and increases signifi cantly
Fig. 12.31 The humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus , is the world’s largest wrasse and an iconic
species on coral reefs visited by tourist divers. ( a ) Adult males can be over 1.5 m total length and
have the characteristic bulbous head; adult females are smaller, up to about 1 m TL, ( b ) small
individuals do not have a bump on the head and have somewhat different colouration (Photos:
Patrick L. Colin)
12 Species Case Studies
12.13.1 General
The humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus Rüppell, is the biggest labrid in the
world and one of the largest bony fi shes found on coral reefs (Fig. 12.31 ). A review
Sadovy et al. ( 2003b ) reports a maximum reported total length (TL) of over 200 cm
(perhaps as much as 250 cm) with weights of 191 kg. However, lengths greater than
about 150 cm are only rarely observed (Choat et al. 2006 ) . It is a member of the
charismatic reef megafauna, which includes sharks, turtles and large reef fi shes.
Large males with their notably bulbous heads are high on the list of nearly every tourist diver as a “must see” (Fig. 12.31a ) and this feature (as well as large size and similar name) occasionally causes it to be confused with the bumphead parrotfi sh,
Bolbometopon muricatum (where both sexes have bulbous heads) by uninformed
divers. The prominent cephalic hump occurs in both sexes and increases signifi cantly
Fig. 12.31 The humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus , is the world’s largest wrasse and an iconic
species on coral reefs visited by tourist divers. ( a ) Adult males can be over 1.5 m total length and
have the characteristic bulbous head; adult females are smaller, up to about 1 m TL, ( b ) small
individuals do not have a bump on the head and have somewhat different colouration (Photos:
Patrick L. Colin)