Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Labridae (Wrasses) > Cheilininae
Etymology: Oxycheilinus: Greek, oxys = sharp + Greek, cheilos = lip.
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 160 m (Ref. 1602). Tropical, preferred ?; 30°N - 30°S
Eastern Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Rowley Shoals in northwestern Australia, New Caledonia, and Rapa.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 46.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2334); max. published weight: 1.4 kg (Ref. 2334)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 9;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 10;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 8 - 11. Adults developing a distinctive black blotch covering the rears of the dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 37816). Display a bright white band over the tail (Ref. 48636). White bar often present on caudal peduncle (this pattern very changeable). Red lines radiating posteriorly from eye continuous across opercle to posterior opercular edge. Membranes of spinous portion of dorsal fin smooth, not incised (Ref 9823).
Usually solitary in coral rich areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs. Hovers well above the bottom (Ref. 9710, 48636). Young secretive in soft corals and hydrozoans (Ref. 48636). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds mainly on fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans (Ref. 9823). May be ciguatoxic (Ref. 37816).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Westneat, M.W., 1993. Phylogenetic relationships of the tribe Cheilinini (Labridae: Perciformes). Bull. Mar. Sci. 52(1):351-394. (Ref. 7441)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 4887)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
More information
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5020 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 4.1 ±0.70 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (44 of 100) .