Meristic formula D, II + VII + 12; A, III + 12; V, I + 5; LL, 20-22 + 4-5

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body deep and extremely compressed. Long dorsal fin, its first two spines are elongated and widely separate from the rest of the fin. Long based anal fin. Caudal fin rounded. Pectoral fin origin above pelvic fin origin, the later pointed. Snout profile very steep in adult and much less steep in young specimens. Small mouth. Two curved canine teeth at the tip of both jaws. The eye of adults located at the upper part of head while in young it is located half the distance between dorsal fin origin and the mouth. Lateral line interrupted, the anterior part much longer. color : great variation in coloration pattern. Body of adults ranges from light grey, dark brownish-grey to almost bluish-purple. 3-4 broad dark brown-grey bars on the body. Two distinct black spots under 8th dorsal spine. Juveniles and young coloration is darker and more distinct. common size : 5-15 cm (max. 35 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Xyrichthys novacula – No separate dorsal spines; no bars on the body; juveniles and young pinkish-red. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on small benthic invertebrates. Probably protogynic hermaphrodite. Usually observed hovering over sandy substrate, when threatened dives rapidly into the sand. Juveniles often mimic drifting vegetative material. habitat : sandy bottom in the vicinity of the coral reef at depths of 5-30 m but was collected from 100 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Greece, Rhodes Island, 2006 [2004]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Wide Indo-Pacific including tropical eastern Pacific. Mediterranean : Greece, Rhodes Island (southeastern Aegean Sea) (Corsini et al., 2006). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare. Only a single specimen was collected in the Mediterranean. MODE OF INTRODUCTION Most likely escapee from aquarium trade or ballast water. Also possible via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Corsini M., Margies P., Kondilatos G. and Economidis P.E., 2006. Three new exotic fish record from the SE Aegean Greek waters. Scientia Marina, 70: 319-323. Randall J.E. and Earle J.L., 2002. Review of the Hawaiian razorfishes of the genus Iniistius (Perciformes: Labridae). Pacific Science, 56: 389-402. Victor B.C., Wellington G.M. and Caldow C., 2001. A review of the razorfishes (Perciformes: Labridae) of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Revista de Biología Tropical, 49(Supp)1: 101-110.   FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet : January 2009 ©ciesm 2002