St Helena Wrasse

Thalassoma sanctaehelenae

The St. Helena wrasse (Thalassoma sanctaehelenae) is a poorly known species of wrasse in the family Labridae, endemic to St. Helena island in the South Atlantic. Adults reach up to about 19 cm with greenish to bluish coloration typical of Thalassoma. This species inhabits shallow coastal waters near rocks and rocky reefs at depths of 1-20 meters. Like other Thalassoma wrasses, they are active diurnal swimmers feeding on small invertebrates and zooplankton. Their extreme geographic isolation means they have evolved independently for millions of years. As one of approximately 18 endemic fish species found only around St. Helena, this wrasse represents a unique piece of oceanic island biodiversity. The remoteness of St. Helena means very few divers have observed this species in the wild.