Knife Wrasse

Cymolutes praetextatus

The Knife Wrasse, known scientifically as Cymolutes praetextatus, is a pale-colored fish with a distinctive steep head profile. It features indistinct whitish bars along its flanks and a white stripe on its back, which may be accompanied by a broad yellow or darker stripe. This species can be identified by its elongated, compressed body and the presence of 9-10 spines and 12-13 soft rays in its dorsal fin, along with 2-3 spines and 11-12 soft rays in the anal fin. Males can reach a length of up to 20 centimeters. Knife Wrasses are found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the eastern coast of Africa to the Society Islands and Hawaii. In Australia, they inhabit areas like Ningaloo Reef and the Great Barrier Reef. They prefer reef flats and shallow lagoons with sandy, rubble-strewn areas swept by currents, typically at depths of 2 to 10 meters. This solitary species feeds primarily on small benthic invertebrates. When threatened, it has the ability to dive into the sand to hide. Knife Wrasses are oviparous and form distinct pairs during breeding. They are rarely caught by fisheries and are not commonly seen in the aquarium trade. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern.