55. Saddle Wrasse / hinalea                                  lauwili

Scientific name: Thalassoma duperrey

Hawaiian Name: hinalea lauwili

Classification: Phylum: Chordata. Class: Pisces. Family: Labridae

Origin: Native.

Status: Common.

Distribution: Most islands.

Map: —

Following divers everywhere on a given reef, picking and prodding is an evolved behavior for this very common reef fish. Saddle wrasses feed on crabs, shrimp, snails, worms, and many other small marine organisms living in the reef. Their coloration of a greenish and bluish body with a brownish to orange bar looking like a “saddle” gives its common name.