Humphead Wrasse - Ecology & Habitat
From female to male at 5-7 years of age
Adult humphead wrasse is found in reef habitat, in depths ranging from 1 to 60 m, including steep outer reef slopes and channel slopes. Juveniles inhabit coral areas of lagoon reefs, where staghorn Acropora coral is found in abundance, and also sometimes in seagrass areas.
Life CycleSexual maturation of this species takes up to 5-7 years, after which some females become males. The species is reported to live for over 30 years.
Breeding
They demonstrate a reproductive strategy of spawning aggregation, whereby sexually mature adults from adjacent reefs gather at specific sites to mate.
Diet
Humphead wrasse feed primarily on molluscs, fish, sea urchins, crustaceans, echinoderms, and other invertebrates, using their strong teeth. The species may be one of the few predators of the toxic crown of thorns starfish, boxfish and sea hares.
