banded wrasse, common and quietly pretty

Size
Length: 30–40 cm, Weight: 1–2 kg
Lifespan
10–15 years
Diet
Small crustaceans, molluscs and other invertebrates. Cruises shallow, rocky reefs covered in kelp from the low tide mark down to 30 metres. Colourful and curious, often seen by divers investigating their surroundings.
Habitat
Shallow, rocky reefs covered in kelp from the low tide mark down to about 30 metres. The fish of the waving forest, colourful, curious and always on the move.
Range
South Island and southern North Island, particularly in areas with healthy kelp growth. Most common in shallow, rocky reefs from the low tide mark down to 30 metres.
Endemism
Endemic
Main Threats
Habitat loss from coastal development and kelp degradation. Overfishing in some areas. Climate change affecting kelp growth. Pollution and sedimentation from land-based activities.
Population
Not Threatened. Common around the South Island and the southern North Island, especially in areas with healthy kelp growth. One of the most common fish on southern reefs, often seen by divers and snorkelers.
Conservation Status
Not Threatened
Colourful cruiser of the kelp forest. It is a fish that cannot sit still. The banded wrasse has a long, slender body. It possesses a pointed snout and a mouth full of strong, canine teeth. The colour varies dramatically with age and sex. Females are muted reddish-brown. Breeding males are brilliant electric blue and green. Dark vertical bands mark their sides. A fish that changes its clothes for the occasion. A fish that dresses to impress. Busybodies of the reef. Banded wrasses are constantly on the move. They search for food. They chase each other. They check out anything new that enters their territory. They feed on small crustaceans, worms, molluscs and sea urchins. They use strong teeth to crush shells and pick at rocks. They follow larger fish. They pick at the scraps left behind. A reef cleaner with a curious nature. A fish that never clocks off. Banded wrasses are not highly prized as food fish. The flesh is soft. It can have a strong, iodine flavour. But they are a favourite of divers. They love their bright colours and curious, cheeky behaviour. A banded wrasse will follow a diver through the kelp. It watches with those bright eyes. It checks out this strange creature that has entered its world. A fish that has no fear. To see a banded wrasse is to see the personality of the reef. It is the fish that never stops moving. It never stops looking. It never stops being interested in everything that happens in its underwater world. The kelp sways. The wrasse darts, electric blue and green. It chases another wrasse. Then it stops to inspect a diver's mask. The diver does not move. The wrasse tilts its head. Then it darts away. It does not know it is curious. It just is. In Māori tradition, the Banded Wrasse does not have a widely recorded name. This is likely because it was often grouped with other wrasse species. Today it remains the fish of the diver. It is the one that follows you through the kelp. It watches you with those bright eyes. It is a colourful, curious companion on your journey through the reef. Mana whenua recognise these vibrant inhabitants of coastal ecosystems.