Four-Lined Wrasse

Pseudocheilinus tetrataenia

The Four-lined Wrasse is a small reef fish found in the Pacific Ocean, ranging from Japan to the Hawaiian and Tuamoto islands, and extending south to the Austral Islands. It typically inhabits coral reefs at depths of 6 to 44 meters, often staying close to the seafloor. This species reaches a maximum length of 7.5 cm and is characterized by its fusiform body shape. Divers may spot this wrasse hiding among live coral, particularly around small heads of Pocillopora meandrina. In terms of diet, the Four-lined Wrasse feeds on a variety of small marine organisms. Its stomach contents often include demersal eggs, copepods, amphipods, alpheid shrimp, crab megalops, larval shrimp, and gastropods. During breeding, the species exhibits oviparous reproduction with distinct pairing. Divers encountering the Four-lined Wrasse can expect to find it in the more secretive parts of the reef, often in benthic or benthopelagic zones. It is considered harmless to humans and is sometimes seen in the aquarium trade. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern.