Zigzag Wrasse
Halichoeres scapularis
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Labriformes
- Family
- Labridae
- Genus
- Halichoeres
- Species
- Halichoeres scapularis
The zigzag wrasse (Halichoeres scapularis) is a slender wrasse with a dark zigzag stripe running from its eye along its body. Males are greener with pink markings on the head, while females and juveniles are paler.
It grows to about 20 cm and forages over sand and rubble, picking up small crustaceans, worms and molluscs. It buries itself in the sand at night and when frightened.
The zigzag wrasse is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on sandy lagoons and reef flats. It is a relative of the canary wrasse.