WRASSES Are wrasses endangered? Some species, such as the humphead wrasse, are listed as endangered due to over-shing and destruction of coral reefs where they live. Humphead wrasse How long do Cheilinus undulatus wrasses live? Wrasses are marine shes that belong to the Labridae family. Humphead wrasses can survive three to 30 years, most species live There are more than 500 species of wrasses that can be found from three to ve years. in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian, Pacic and Atlantic oceans. Wrasses inhabit coastal areas, rocky shores, Fascinating fact: Wrasses are born female are able change sex coral reefs, tide pools and the sandy sea oor. to male during their lifetime. This is usually driven by the loss of the dominant male, allowing the largest (formerly) female to then Wrasse species common to the tropical Pacific take control of the harem. Blackstripe coris wrasse Coris avovittata Bluestreak cleaner wrasse What do Labroides dimidiatus Birdnose wrasse Gomphosus varius wrasses eat? Wrasses are carnivores. Their diets are based on small invertebrates (crabs, shrimp, mollusks, snails and Christmas wrasse Thalassoma trilobatum sea urchins) and sh. Occasionally they follow large marine predators and collect leftovers of their meals. Cleaner wrasses collect and eat Pink asher wrasse dead tissue and parasites Ornate wrasse Paracheilinus carpenteri Halichoeres ornatissimus accumulated in the mouths of large Psychedelic wrasse Anampses chrysocephalus marine sh. Who are wrasse predators? Saddle wrasse Thalassoma duperrey Natural enemies of wrasses are Rockmover wrasse Novaculichthys taeniourus lionsh, barracudas and sharks. Some Sixline wrasse wrasses can bury themselves in the Pseudocheilinus hexataenia sand or quickly swim away, thanks to well-developed pectoral and caudal ns, to escape from predators. Some species hide among the large tentacles of mushroom coral and Shortnose wrasse Yellowtail coris wrasse Macropharyngodon georoy Coris gaimard sea anemones..