Family LABRIDAE

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CAAB: 37384000

Family LABRIDAE

Cales, Rock Whitings, Weed Whitings, Wrasses

Compiler and date details

28 June 2017 - Gerald R. Allen, Matthew M. Lockett, Douglass F. Hoese, Dianne J. Bray, Norbert J. Cross, Connie J. Allen & Martin F. Gomon

Gerald R. Allen, Norbert J. Cross, Connie J. Allen, Martin Gomon, Dianne J. Bray & Douglass F. Hoese

Introduction

The Labridae or wrasses are the second largest family of fishes in Australian waters after the Gobiidae. Estimates of the number of genera and species vary widely. The family comprises more than 80 genera and 725 species worldwide (Eschmeyer & Fong 2012). Nelson et al. indicated 87 genera ad 630 species. In Australia and external territories, 59 genera and 262 species have been recorded. The labrids are abundant on tropical and subtropical reefs worldwide, although some species are associated with weed or seagrass beds, and some are restricted to temperate waters. Nelson (2006) and previously recognised three families - the Labridae, Odacidae and Scaridae. The studies of Clements et al. (2004) and Westneat & Alfaro (2005) showed the Labridae to be paraphyletic. Although Allen et al. (2006) recognised that Odacinae are nested within the Labrinae, they placed the three groups as subfamilies of the Labridae - Labrinae, Odacinae and Scarinae, awaiting further resolution of the phylogenetic details. Here we retain the subfamily Scarinae, and move the taxa previously placed in the Odacinae into the subfamily Labrinae for convenience, recognising that the Labrinae will be divided further. Parenti & Randall (2011) did not follow the placement of the parrotfishes within the Labridae, and did not accept the nomenclatural changes of Kuiter (2010). Nelson et al. (2016) also retained the traditional classification, separating the Scaridae and Odacidae from the Labridae.

Gomon & Paxton (1986) revised the genera and species previously included in the Odacidae, and all species are treated and illustrated in colour in Gomon (1994) and Russell & Gomon (2008). Westneat et al. (2005) studied the evolution of skull biomechanics in labrids.

Scarines or parrotfishes occur worldwide in tropical seas. Typically, they are inhabitants of coral reefs, although several species are usually associated with weed or seagrass beds. The subfamily comprises 100 species in 10 genera (Eschmeyer 2012; Eschmeyer & Fong 2012). The Australian fauna includes 36 species belonging to seven genera. Parrotfishes are robust fishes with large scales and a distinctive beak formed by fusion of dental plates. They also have well-developed pharyngeal teeth that are used for crushing coral rock. They feed mainly on benthic algae and detritus that they scrape from dead coral rock. Parrotfishes are renowned for their sexual dimorphism. Females of most species are able to transform to the male sex. Juveniles, initial adult stage males and females, and terminal stage males may exhibit different colour patterns. Generally, the brightest colours are found in terminal stage males. Some species secrete a mucous cocoon that surrounds their body at night when they sleep. The maximum length is 1.2 m, but most scarines are under 50 cm.

The Australian parrotfishes have been reviewed comprehensively by Choat & Randall (1986), Bellwood & Choat (1989), Randall et al. (1990) and Bellwood (1994) and many of the Australian species are treated in Bellwood (2001). Hutchins (2001) recorded Scarus scaber Valenciennes, 1840 from Western Australia, but this species is restricted to the Indian Ocean. The Scarinae have been the subject of a number of evolutionary history studies in recent years (Streelman et al. 2002; Smith et al. 2008; Alfaro et al. 2009; Price et al. 2010; Choat et al. 2012). Russell & Gomon (2008) treated a number of southern Australian species. Kuiter (2010) and Allen & Erdmann (2012) treated many of the species found in Australian waters.