Canary Wrasse

Halichoeres chrysus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Labridae
Genus: Halichoeres
Species: Halichoeres chrysus

The canary wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) is a bright yellow wrasse with small dark spots on its dorsal fin, often seen darting over sand and rubble. Juveniles and females have several dark eyespots, while males usually have fewer.

It grows to about 12 cm. It feeds on small invertebrates picked from the bottom, and like many wrasses it buries itself in the sand to sleep at night.

The canary wrasse occurs in the western Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a common sight on sandy patches next to reefs.

Photo: Rachel Crane, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist