Creole wrasse
Clepticus parrae
(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
Description:
Body elongated in shape with a relatively long snout. Body dark purple to violet or lavender. Upper body often darker. Snout usually dark purple. Older individuals develop yellow to reddish areas on the lower rear body. Younger, sexually mature terminal phases are identical in appearance to initial phases.
Size up to 30 cm.
Juveniles violet, with a series of spots or short bands along the back, composed of dark and light dots.
Habitat:
Prefer deep, outer reefs, especially the edges of drop-offs, down to 40 m. Swim constantly in small to large schools (C. parrae school). In contrast to other wrasses, the Creole wrasse feeds on animal plankton. This involved a reduction of the teeth: the mouth as well as the teeth are very small.
Distribution:
Common Florida and Bahamas, abundant Caribbean.