Dotted Wrasse

Ground color of female very dark brown; orangish on front of head and lower parts; body spotted with white or very pale yellow, extending to dorsal and anal fins; caudal bright cadmium. Male form deep violet; irregular blue spots on cheeks and lower operculum; body with round blue spots becoming oblong, nearly forming longitudinal bands ventrally; dorsal and anal fins with longitudinal bands; caudal with numerous blue ocelli. Dorsal spines flexible. Caudal fin of adults truncate to emarginate; rounded in small juveniles. Easily confused with male A. geographicus when seen underwater, except when displaying with iridescent blue-green lines and spots over the body and fins (Ref. 48636).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 11 - 13

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154). Found in areas of mixed coral, rubble, consolidated limestone, and sand of seaward reefs (Ref 2677) and coral reefs (Ref. 9137).

Adults are found in areas of mixed coral, rubble, consolidated limestone, and sand of seaward reefs; also in soft coral or sponge habitats (Ref. 48636). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874.

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

分布於印度-太平洋區，由紅海及東非岸邊至薩摩亞，北至琉球，南至新加勒多尼亞及東加海域等。台灣各處海域皆可發現。

中小型之隆頭魚，台灣南部及蘭嶼之礁岸海域為主要釣場。由於顏色鮮明可愛，主要做為觀賞用魚，亦可食用，清蒸或紅燒均可，廣東菜館稱之為「青衣」。

體長形，側扁。口小；唇稍厚，內側具縐褶；上下頜前方各有一對向前伸出門狀齒，扁平而有切截緣。體被大或中大鱗，頭部眼前無鱗，胸部鱗片不較體側為大；側線連續。D. IX, 12；A. III, 12；L.l. 26； G.R. 18-20；幼魚尾鰭圓型，成魚凹型至截型。體色隨魚齡及性別而異；雌魚體黑褐色，吻部前側紅色，體側每一鱗片具小白圓點，尾鰭黃色。雄魚體及鰭黑褐色，體側每一鱗片具細藍線；尾鰭末緣具一弧形藍線，線後至鰭緣色較淡。

主要棲息於面海的礁砂混合區域，亦常見於珊瑚或海綿的棲息地，深度可達60公尺。白天在珊瑚礁區覓食活動，晚上則鑽沙而眠。一般為雌魚較常見。具性轉變的行為，屬於先雌後雄型。以小型的甲殼類、軟體動物和多毛類等為食。

The spotted wrasse, Anampses meleagrides, is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean from the Red Sea and East Africa to the western Pacific Ocean to Samoa and the Tuamoto Islands and north to Japan. This species is found on coral reefs at depths of 3 to 60 m (9.8 to 196.9 ft). It can reach a length of 22 cm (8.7 in). It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries and can be found in the aquarium trade.

Found in areas of mixed coral, rubble, consolidated limestone, and sand of seaward reefs.