Sling-jaw Wrasse

Epibulus insidiator

The sling-jaw wrasse (Epibulus insidiator) is a remarkable Indo-Pacific wrasse reaching about 35 cm, famous for having the most protrusible jaws of any fish. It can extend its mouth forward by up to 65% of its head length to snatch prey from crevices, a unique hydraulic jaw mechanism that operates in milliseconds. Found from the Red Sea to the central Pacific, it occurs in two main color morphs: bright yellow and dark brown. It inhabits coral-rich reef areas from 1-42 m, feeding on small fish and crustaceans plucked from between coral branches. Divers who witness its feeding strike experience one of the most remarkable biomechanical displays in the fish world.