Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Labridae (Wrasses) > Julidinae
Etymology: Halichoeres: Greek, als, alis = salt + Greek, choiros = pig (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Ayres.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 24 m (Ref. 2850). Subtropical; 34°N - 23°N, 121°W - 106°W
Eastern Pacific: Point Conception in California, USA to Guadalupe Island (off north-central Baja California) and the Gulf of California in Mexico.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 38.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2850); max. reported age: 14 years (Ref. 56049)
Found close to rocks near patches of sand and in tide pools. Dart into sand when disturbed and sleep at night buried in sand with head protruding. Feed on gastropods, small crustaceans and has been observed to pick ectoparasites from other fishes (Ref. 9311). Each individual functions first as female but changes to a male at length of about 30 cm. Pelagic spawners (Ref. 56049).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Pelagic spawner (Ref. 56049). Changes sex at 30 cm (Ref. 2850).
Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983. A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p. (Ref. 2850)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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