Slippery dick
Halichoeres bivittatus
(Bloch, 1791)
Description:
Terminal phase: Body in shades of green, with a small green and yellow bicolored spot above the pectoral fin and a darkish to black midbody stripe. A second stripe is less distinct. Tail with dark triangular corners.
Size up to 22 cm.
Initial phase: Colors and markings vary greatly, ranging from shades of green to medium brown, with a small green and yellow bicolored spot above the pectoral fin and a darkish to black midbody stripe. A second stripe is less distinct (H. bivittatus).
Juvenile phase: Usually white, with a small green and yellow bicolored spot above the pectoral fin and a darkish to black midbody stripe. A second stripe is less distinct or absent.
Many juveniles and young initial phases display a small black spot or a large blue dot on the middorsal fin.
Habitat:
Constantly swim over reefs, sandy areas and seagrass beds, down to 15 m.
Distribution:
Very common to occasional Florida, Bahamas and Caribbean.