The cigar wrasse, Cheilio inermis, is a species of wrasse native to the Indo-Pacific. It is mainly found on tropical reefs at depths to 30 m (98 ft) in the Indo-Pacific region, Red Sea included.[3] They inhabit seagrass beds and algae-covered flats, occasionally in lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of at least 30 m. They are a mostly solitary species. Their diet includes crustaceans, mollusks, sea urchins, and other hard-shelled prey.[4]
It grows to an average length of 35 cm (14 in) but can reach up to 50 cm (20 in).[5]
Young individuals are usually a mottled brown or green, sometimes with a broad lateral stripe. Rare individuals may be uniformly yellow. Large males may develop a bright yellow, orange, black, white, or multicolored patch on their sides behind their pectoral fins.[6]
Due to their adult size and diet, they are rarely kept in the aquarium.
References
^Cheung, W.W.L.; Sadovy, Y.; Liu, M. (2010). "Cheilio inermis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T187383A8520063. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T187383A8520063.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Cheilio inermis". FishBase. August 2019 version.
^"Cigar Wrasse - Cheilio inermis - Details - Encyclopedia of Life". Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2013-09-11.
^"Cigar Wrasse - Cheilio inermis - Details - Encyclopedia of Life". Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved 2013-09-11.
