Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) is an apex predator from coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region. Populations of humphead wrasse are on the decline. There are multiple reasons for this decline. FEEDING: Using their ultra-tough teeth, humphead wrasse consume hard-shelled species such as mollusks, echinoderms, and crustaceans. The Humphead Wrasse can be recognized instantly by its size, color and shape.It is one of the largest reef fish in the world and some specimens can grow up to 2.30 meters, and weigh 190 kilograms.It has full lips and a hump on the head that is similar to a Napoleonic hat, which gives rise to its name and that, becomes more prominent with age. Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) is an apex predator from coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region.A food surveillance project using a validated mouse bioassay revealed the presence of ciguatoxins in significantly greater amounts in its flesh than in groupers and other coral reef fishes commonly available in Hong Kong wholesale market. The Humphead Wrasse. This website will be devoted to studying an endangered species, the Humphead Wrasse. LIFE CYCLE: Humphead wrasse are long-lived for fish, known to survive for at least 30 years. The hump head wrasse eats many things including, reed fish,sea urchins, shellfish, and other invertebrates. They Are Pretty Big. Giant wrasse primarily feed on molluscs, crustaceans, sea urchins and fish. They feed on the crown-of-thorn starfish which are reef predators and are destroying the coral reef. These fish are one of the few predators of coral-reef-destroying species, such as the crown of thorns starfish. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that crown-of-thorns starfish have few natural predators. The niche of the Humphead is identified as a coral destroying species and is unknown if the Humphead have any natural predators but if they did have a main, it would be humans. The Humphead Wrasse’s Main Characteristics. If you take the hump-head wrasse out of the food chain the population of the food it eats would grow, because the hump-head wrasse would not be there to eat the sea creatures and since those animals eat the coral reefs, and the coral reef population would decrease. The humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) is a large species of wrasse mainly found on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. I believe that this has caused them to adapt to eating crown of thorns starfish which feed on the coral. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons. (15) The Wrasse is listed as an endangered species due to its fast decline in number. The humphead wrasse is an enormous coral reef fish—growing over six feet long—with a prominent bulge on its forehead. A food surveillance project using a validated mouse bioassay revealed the presence of ciguatoxins in significantly greater amounts in its flesh than in groupers and other coral reef fishes commonly available in Hong Kong wholesale market. This species of fish live in Pacific Ocean, and is endangered. (14) The Humphead Wrasse is very important for the health of the coral reef. But the humphead wrasse makes their short list of enemies. Lastly, humphead wrasse are known to dwell amongst coral beds during the day. It is also known as the Māori wrasse, Napoleon wrasse, Napoleon fish, Napoleonfish, so mei 蘇眉 (Cantonese), mameng (Filipino), and merer in the Pohnpeian language of the Caroline Islands. Distinctive Features: One of the largest reef fishes in the world, the humphead wrasse is made even more imposing by the presence of a prominent hump located on the forehead from which it earns its various common names. Moreover, they are among the rare predators of venomous marine organisms like boxfish, crown-of-thorns sea stars, and sea hares. Pollution and non-native predators are also challenges for the big lizards, and when all three problems occur at the same time, their numbers can get dangerously low. Humphead wrasse males tend to be larger than females, but they are both good-sized fish.

humphead wrasse predators

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