Blue-throated wrasse

Blue-throated wrasse
Image: Peter Southwood
Community type

Reef fish

Habitat type

Rocky reefs, kelp beds and inter-tidal zone

A number of wrasse species are common to Tasmanian waters, with the most frequently encountered species being the blue throated wrasse. Blue throat wrasse are a peculiar animal as they change sex from female to male, and in doing so, their colour and general appearance changes. Juveniles have a nondescript appearance, but when they mature into females they gain a thick black and white stripe across their body. Large females turn into males when required, and develop a distinctive blue throat and yellow fins. They will aggressively compete with other fish species for breeding territories. They can live to 11 years old, and grow to 50 cm in length and around 4 kg.

Much of the text within the species area of our website was written by Veronica Thorpe, as part of the Derwent River Wildlife Guide (2000).

The DEP has developed a variety of classroom and outdoor activities focused around the key estuary habitats of tidal wetlands, salt marshes and rocky reefs. These include classroom materials, online resources, interpretive walks, games and sensory experiences.