Family : Labridae (Wrasses) , subfamily: Cheilininae
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Cocktail wrasse
Fish Name : Pteragogus flagellifer
Max size : 20.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 4392); 15 cm TL (female)
Environment : reef-associated
Climate : tropical
Global Importance : aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to South Africa (Ref. 35918) and Papua New Guinea, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Males with long filaments (Ref. 1623).
Biology : Found among algae patches of coral or rocky reefs (Ref. 9710). Also found in weedy bottoms (Ref. 30573). Males territorial (Ref. 9710). Edible but not tasty (Ref. 559). Female length is from Ref. 9137
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator : Westneat, Mark
Main Ref : Randall, J.E.. 1986. (Ref. 4392)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses