Surge Wrasse, Thalassoma purpureum (Forsskål 1775)


Other Names: Green-blocked Wrasse, Purple Wrasse, Red And Green Wrasse

A terminal phase (male) Surge Wrasse, Thalassoma purpureum, at Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. Source: John Turnbull / Flickr. License: CC BY Attribution-Noncommercial-ShareAlike

Summary:

A colourful wrasse often seen in the surge zone on reef flats and reef margins.

Females are greenish with a dark red V-shaped marking on the snout. Males are greenish-blue with two reddish stripes along the sides and a large blunt greenish-blue head with pinkish-purple markings.

Very similar to the Ladder Wrasse, Thalassoma trilobatum.


Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2020, Thalassoma purpureum in Fishes of Australia, accessed 15 Apr 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/288

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37384169

Biology:Hermaphrodite

Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

Depth:0-15 m

Habitat:Reef associated, in surge zone

Max Size:46 cm TL

Species Image Gallery