Redband Wrasse, Pseudolabrus biserialis (Klunzinger 1880)


Other Names: Red-band Wrasse, Red-banded Wrasse

A pair of Redband Wrasse, Pseudolabrus biserialis, at Rottnest Island, Western Australia, June 2019. Source: John Turnbull / Flickr. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Summary:

A reddish to reddish-orange wrasse with two broad white stripes along the lower side. Females have black spots along the back and dorsal-fin base, while males have a bright red anal fin, a yellow caudal fin, and a distinct black stripe and a yellow margin on the dorsal fin.


Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2024, Pseudolabrus biserialis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 15 Feb 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/271

Redband Wrasse, Pseudolabrus biserialis (Klunzinger 1880)

More Info


Distribution

Port Lincoln area and the Investigator Group, South Australia, to the Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia, at depths to 27 m. The species is common in southwestern Western Australia,  particularly at depths greater than 10 m.

Inhabits macroalgal beds on exposed coastal reefs.

Features

Dorsal fin IX,11;  Anal fin III, 10; Pectoral fin 13; Pelvic fin I,5; Caudal fin 12; Lateral line scales 25-26.  
Body moderately deep (27-37% SL), compressed; head moderately large (32-36%), dorsal profile slightly convex; eyes moderately large (19-25% HL); mouth small, upper jaw not reaching to below eye; teeth moderately large, caniniform, anterior two pairs in both jaws enlarged and recurved; each side of upper jaw with enlarged, curved canine at rear. 
Scales moderately large, cycloid, firmly attached, covering body; low scaly sheath at base of dorsal and anal fin; head naked except for two rows of cheek scales and 15-16 large scales on opercle; lateral line abruptly curved downwards below soft dorsal fin. 
Dorsal fin continuous, with elongate base and uniform height; anal fin similar to and opposite rear half of dorsal fin; caudal fin truncate. Pectoral fins long, pointed, upper rays longest, reaching to or near anus. Pelvic fins short, arising beneath pectoral fin bases, not reaching near anus.

Colour

Juveniles and females reddish orange, snout dusky; white band on head extending from just below snout to margin of preopercle and there branching into two, resulting upper band extending along lateral midline of body, lower band running obliquely down beneath pectoral fin to ventral surface; back spotted with black fins pale yellowish orange, dorsal and anal fins blue edged; pectoral fin with black wedge shaped bar at base.  Adult males similar to females but lacking black spots on back, and with more vividly coloured fins.

Feeding

Most likely feeds on benthic invertebrates such as small crustaceans and molluscs.

Biology

A protogynous hermaphrodite, whereby individuals 

Conservation

  • IUCN Red List : Least Concern
  • Etymology

    The specific name biserialis is from the Latin bi (= two) and serialis (= row), in reference to the two rows of cheek scales that characterize this species.

    Species Citation

    Labrichthys biserialis Klunzinger 1880, Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien 80(1): 402. Type locality: King George Sound, Western Australia.

    Author

    Bray, D.J. 2024

    Resources

    Atlas of Living Australia

    Redband Wrasse, Pseudolabrus biserialis (Klunzinger 1880)

    References


    Edgar, G.J. 2008. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Sydney : Reed New Holland 2nd edn, 624 pp. 

    Gill, T.N. 1892. On the genera Labrichthys and Pseudolabrus. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 14(861): 395-404

    Gomon, M.F. &. Russell, B.C. 1994. Family Labridae. pp. 675-699 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.

    Grant, E.M. 1991. Fishes of Australia. Brisbane : EM Grant Pty Ltd 480 pp. 

    Hoschke, A., Whisson, G. & Moore, G.I. 2019. Complete list of fishes from Rottnest Island. pp. 150-161 in Whisson, G. & Hoschke, A. (eds) The Rottnest Island fish book. 2nd ed. Perth: Aqua Research and Monitoring Services.

    Hutchins, J.B. 1997. Checklist of fishes of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. pp. 239-253 in Wells, F. (ed.) The Marine Fauna and Flora of the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum.

    Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Biodiversity of shallow reef fish assemblages in Western Australia using a rapid censusing technique. Records of the Western Australian Museum 20: 247-270

    Hutchins, J.B. 2005. Checklist of marine fishes of Recherche Archipelago and adjacent mainland waters. pp. 425-449 in Wells, F.E., Walker, D.I. & Kendrick, G.A. (eds). Proceedings of the Twelfth International Marine Biological Workshop: The Marine Flora and Fauna of Esperance, Western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum.

    Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp.

    Klunzinger, C.B. 1880. Die von Müller'sche Sammlung australischer Fische in Stuttgart. Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien 80(1): 325-430 pls 1-9

    Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to sea fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp.

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

    Kuiter, R.H. 2010. Labridae fishes: wrasses. Seaford, Victoria, Australia : Aquatic Photographics pp. 398.

    Russell, B.C. 1988. Revision of the labrid fish genus Pseudolabrus and allied genera. Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 9: 1-72. https://doi.org/10.3853/j.0812-7387.9.1988.95

    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. Pseudolabrus biserialis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T187542A8563316. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187542A8563316.en. Downloaded on 01 August 2019.

    Quick Facts


    CAAB Code:37384149

    Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

    Depth:1-27 m

    Max Size:25 cm TL

    Max Size:Reef associated

    Native:Endemic

    Species Image Gallery

    Species Maps

    CAAB distribution map