Splendid Pencil Wrasse

Pseudojuloides splendens

The Splendid Pencil Wrasse is a small reef-associated fish found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Western Pacific. Its distribution extends from Japan in the north to Australia in the south, including regions such as the Northern Marianas, Lord Howe Island, and eastward to Kwajalein Atoll and Samoa. This species is typically found at depths ranging from 2 to 28 meters, often inhabiting offshore coral-reef areas with rubble bottoms. Identifying the Splendid Pencil Wrasse involves noting its elongate and moderately compressed body, which can reach a maximum length of 9 cm. Males and females exhibit distinct coloration patterns. Females display orangish to reddish hues, with a yellowish or bluish snout and median fins, while males have a greenish upper body and bluish lower body, accented with a mid-lateral blue stripe over a yellow stripe. The head of the male is green above and blue below, with two blue stripes extending behind the eye. Notably, this species lacks a dark mark at the front of the dorsal fin. Currently, the conservation status of the Splendid Pencil Wrasse has not been evaluated by the IUCN.