Xyrichtys splendens Castelnau, 1855
Green razorfish
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Labridae (Wrasses), subfamily: Xyrichtyinae
Max. size:  17.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 15 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Bermuda and southern Florida (USA) to Brazil; throughout the Caribbean Sea.
Diagnosis:  Adults have a vertically elongate blue spot on each scale, the head has alternating vertical lines of pale blue and brownish orange, but these are broader than on X. novacula; adult males are more green in overall color and have a blue-edged inky black spot on midside of body within a pale region of pink or yellow (Ref. 13442).
Biology:  Most common in shallow, sandy areas in and around seagrass beds. Prefers clear waters (Ref. 9626). Generally of no interest to fisheries because of its small average size (Ref. 5217).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 March 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.