Six Line Wrasse

The Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) is a small wrasse in the family Labridae, widely distributed across the tropical Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa to the central Pacific. Its name refers to the six narrow orange stripes running the length of its purple-blue body, a distinctive and reliable identification feature. It is a common inhabitant of coral-rich reef areas, typically staying close to shelter among rubble and coral branches. The species is abundant and not considered at risk, frequently observed darting quickly between hiding spots on reefs throughout its extensive Indo-Pacific range.

Six Line Wrasse are identified by:

• Small, elongate body reaching only 6-8 cm
• Violet to blue base color crossed by six narrow, horizontal orange stripes
• A small black spot ringed in blue at the rear base of the dorsal fin
• Pointed snout and small mouth typical of wrasses
• Quick, darting swimming movements between shelter points

The combination of six consistent orange stripes on a purple-blue body is unique among similarly sized reef wrasses, making misidentification unlikely once the stripe count and eyespot are observed.

Six Line Wrasse are distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Line Islands and southern Japan. They inhabit coral-rich reef flats, lagoons, and slopes at depths of 3 to 40 meters, staying close to coral rubble, branching coral, and reef crevices that provide quick refuge. They are secretive and rarely stray far from cover, favoring structurally complex habitat over open sand. The species prefers warm tropical waters generally between 24-28°C and is closely associated with healthy, rubble-rich reef substrate.

Six Line Wrasse are solitary and territorial, with individuals defending a small home range centered on coral rubble or reef crevices. They are fast, darting swimmers, moving quickly between patches of shelter while foraging and rarely venturing far into open water. Their diet consists of small benthic invertebrates such as worms, small crustaceans, and other tiny prey picked from the reef substrate and rubble. Like many wrasses, they bury themselves in sand or retreat into crevices to rest at night. They can be aggressive toward similarly shaped small fish sharing their territory despite their small size.