Braun's Wrasse, Pictilabrus brauni Hutchins & Morrison 1996

Other Names: Braun's Senator Wrasse

Summary:

A rare pinkish-brown to bronze-coloured wrasse with six iridescent blue bars on the head. This very shy well-camouflaged species is known only from the Cheynes Beach area of southwest Western Australia.

Cite this page as:

Dianne J. Bray, Pictilabrus brauni in Fishes of Australia, accessed 17 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2308

Braun's Wrasse, Pictilabrus brauni Hutchins & Morrison 1996

More Info

Distribution	Known only from the Cheynes Beach area of southwest Western Australia. Inhabits shallow algal-covered reefs.
Features	Dorsal fin IX, 11; Anal fin III, 9; Caudal fin 12; Pectoral fin 13; Pelvic fin I, 5; Lateral line scales 25. Body moderately slender (22–24% SL); 1–3 rows of cheek scales and 7–11 large scales on opercle; margin of dorsal-fin membrane weakly incised; caudal fin rounded; pectoral fins short, rounded, middle rays longest.
Colour	Juveniles and females are pinkish-brown above, belly pale pinkish white with 6 darker saddles on the upper half of the body; sides of head with faint narrow blue cross bars; dorsal, anal and caudal fins dusky. Males pale to greenish-bronze with a distinct reddish brown stripe on the lower half of the body from the pectoral fin to the caudal and onto anal fin, many lengthwise rows of blue spots and dashes, iridescent and darker on lower half; head pale pinkish brown with 6 nearly parallel narrow iridescent blue bars, curving downwards posteriorly, irregular and broken into spots dorsally; dorsal fins pinkish-brown with rows of blue spots and dashes and iridescent blue border; anal and caudal fins dark reddish-brown with similar blue markings, those on anterior half of caudal fin aligned horizontally, arranged vertically on posterior half, margin iridescent blue.
Feeding	Carnivore - presumably feeds on small benthic invertebrates.
Biology	Presumably a protogynous hermaphrodite like other species of Pictilabrus, with females changing sex to become males at some stage during their life. Females occur in small aggregations.
Fisheries	Of no interest to fisheries.
Conservation	IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Data Deficient.
Similar Species	Differs from Pictilabrus laticlavius and Pictilabrus viridis, in having a more slender body (4.1–4.5 in SL), weakly incised dorsal-fin membranes, 9 soft anal-fin rays, and 6 parallel blue bars on head (vs dorsal-fin membranes continuous, not incised, anal fin with 10 soft rays, body moderately deep, 2.0–3.0 in SL, head lacking parallel bars).
Species Citation	Pictilabrus brauni Hutchins & Morrison, 1996, Revue Française d'Aquariologie et Herpétologie 23(1–2): 39, figs 1, 4, 7. Type locality: Cheyne Beach, Western Australia.
Author	Dianne J. Bray

Braun's Wrasse, Pictilabrus brauni Hutchins & Morrison 1996

References

Hutchins, J.B. & S.M. Morrison. 1996. Pictilabrus brauni, a new species of labrid fish from South-western Australia. Revue française d'Aquariologie Herpétologie 23(1-2): 39-42.

Kuiter, R.H. 2002. Fairy & Rainbow Wrasses and their Relatives. Chorleywood, U.K. : TMC Publishing 207 pp.

Pogonoski, J.J., Pollard, D.A. & Paxton, J.R. 2002. Conservation overview and action plan for Australian threatened and potentially threatened marine and estuarine fishes. Environment Australia, Canberra, Australia.

Russell, B.C. & Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Labridae. pp. 638-659 in Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Russell, B. & Pollard, D. 2010. Pictilabrus brauni. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T187557A8567565. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187557A8567565.en. Downloaded on 04 October 2016.