Connie's Wrasse, Cirrhilabrus apterygia (Allen 1983)
Other Names: Mutant Wrasse, Rowley Shoals Wrasse
Connie's Wrasse, Cirrhilabrus apterygia, on Rowley Shoals, Western Australia. Source: Rudie Kuiter, after Fig. 3A, in Tea et al. (2021) Zootaxa 5061 (3): 493–509 . License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
An unusual and rare wrasse that lacks pelvic fins - a feature not found in other members of the family Labridae. Males have a long pointed tail, bright red and yellowish to white stripes along the sides, a red dorsal fin with yellow and blue outer stripes, and bluish anal and caudal fins.
This species was previously placed in the genus Conniella.
This species was previously placed in the genus Conniella.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2024, Cirrhilabrus apterygia in Fishes of Australia, accessed 18 Jun 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2280
Connie's Wrasse, Cirrhilabrus apterygia (Allen 1983)
More Info
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Distribution |
Offshore reefs of north Western Australia, from Rowley Shoals, Scott Reef and Seringapatam Reef, and Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea. Inhabits steep outer reef slopes over rubble with macroalgal cover and patches of live coral in depths of 12-140 m. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin XI-X,9; Anal fin III,9; Pectoral fin 13-15; Caudal fin, principal rays 7+6; Procurrent caudal-fin rays upper 6, lower procurrent caudal-fin rays 6; Gill rakers 6–7 + 9–11 = 15–18; Pseudobranchial filaments 10–12; Vertebrae 9+16; Lateral line pored scale 21-26, dorsoanterior series 16-17, midlateral posterior peduncular series 5-9; Scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 2; Scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin 6; Median predorsal scales 5; Cheek scale rows 2; Circumpeduncular scales 16. Body moderately elongate, compressed, depth 3.2–3.8 in SL. Pelvic fins and pelvic girdle absent; caudal fin rhomboidal to lanceolate in males. |
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Biology |
A protogynous hermaphrodite. |
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Remarks |
Tea et al. (2021) showed that Connie's Wrasse is a member of the fairy wrasse genus Cirrhilabrus. |
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Similar Species |
Differs from all other Cirrhilabrus species in the following combination of characters: absence of pelvic fins and pelvic girdle; lateral line with 21–26 pored scales (16–17 in the dorsoanterior series, 5–9 in the posterior peduncular series); caudal fin rhomboidal to lanceolate in males; both sexes with eight to ten stripes, purple in life and in preservation; preopercle purple in preservation. |
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Etymology |
The specific name apterygia is from the Latin a- (= without) and pterygia (= fins), in reference to the lack of pelvic fins in this species. |
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Species Citation |
Conniella apterygia Allen 1983, Revue française d'Aquariologie 10(2): 43-46. Type locality: Rowley Shoals, Clerke Reef, outer reef slope east of Bedwell Island, Western Australia, about 17°16'S, 119°22'E, depth 32 m. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2024 |
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Resources |
Connie's Wrasse, Cirrhilabrus apterygia (Allen 1983)
References
Allen, G.R. 1983. A new genus and species of wrasse (Pisces: Labridae) from Rowley Shoals, Western Australia. Revue française d'Aquariologie 10(2): 43-46.
Allen, G.R. 2018. Field Guide to Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth, Western Australia : Western Australian Museum, 287 pp.
Kuiter, R.H. 2002. Fairy and rainbow wrasses and their relatives – a comprehensive guide to selected labrids. TMC Publishing, Chorleywood, UK.
Kuiter, R.H. 2010. Labridae fishes: wrasses. Seaford, Victoria, Australia : Aquatic Photographics 398 pp.
Russell, B. & Pollard, D. 2010. Conniella apterygia. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2.
