Florent's Guide To The

Tropical Pacific Reefs

Surge Wrasse
Thalassoma purpureum
Surge Wrasse
Category: Wrasses
Scientific Name: Thalassoma purpureum
Size: Up to 17 in. (43 cm)  
Depth: 1-15 ft. (0-5 m)
Distribution: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, Hawaii, Australia, Pacific Coast of Panama, French Polynesia
Chordata (Phylum)
└Osteichthyes (Parvphylum)
 └Actinopterygii (Gigaclass)
  └Actinopteri (Superclass)
   └Teleostei (Class)
    └Eupercaria (Order)
     └Labridae (Family)
      └Thalassoma (Genus)

Parrotfishes & Wrasses
Wrasses

Surge Wrasse

Ladder Wrasse

Whitespotted Wrasse

Yellowtail Wrasse

New Guinea Wrasse (Initial Phase)

New Guinea Wrasse (Juvenile)

Hawaiian Hogfish

Lyretail Hogfish

Axilspot Hogfish

Axilspot Hogfish (Juvenile)

Diana's Hogfish

Blackfin Hogfish

Blackbelt Hogfish

Blackbelt Hogfish (Juvenile)

Redbreasted Wrasse

Snooty Wrasse

Tripletail Wrasse

Humphead Wrasse

Cigar Wrasse

Anchor Tuskfish

Harlequin Tuskfish

Harlequin Tuskfish (juvenile)

Blacksaddle Tuskfish

Bluesided Fairy Wrasse

Lubbock's Wrasse

Dotted Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Dotted Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Batu coris

Batu coris (Juvenile)

Pale-Barred Coris

Yellowstripe Coris (Female)

Yellowtail Coris (Initial Phase)

Yellowtail Coris (Terminal Phase)

Yellowtail Coris (Juvenile)

Elegant coris

Latent Slingjaw Wrasse

Slingjaw Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Slingjaw Wrasse (Dark Initial Phase)

Slingjaw Wrasse (Yellow Initial Phase)

Pacific Bird Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Pacific Bird Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Red-Lined Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Red-Lined Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Canary Wrasse (Juvenile)

Goldstripe Wrasse

Checkerboard Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Checkerboard Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Checkerboard Wrasse (Juvenile)

Pinstriped Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Pinstriped Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Nebulous Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Ornate Wrasse

Twotone Wrasse

Twotone Wrasse (Juvenile)

Richmond's Wrasse

Zigzag Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Barred Thicklip

Blackeye Thicklip

Ring Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Pastel Ringwrasse (Juvenile)

Whitepatch Razorfish (Terminal Phase)

Whitepatch Razorfish (Initial Phase)

Finspot Razorfish

Peacock Razorfish (Terminal Phase)

Peacock Razorfish (Initial Phase)

Peacock Razorfish (Juvenile)

Fivefinger Razorfish (Initial Phase)

Fivefinger Razorfish (Terminal Phase)

Bicolor Cleaner Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Bicolor Cleaner Wrasse (Juvenile Phase)

Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse (Juvenile)

Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse

Wedge-Tailed Wrasse (Juvenile)

Shortnose Wrasse

Leopard Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Rockmover Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Rockmover Wrasse (Juvenile)

Twospot Wrasse

Twospot Wrasse (variation)

Celebes Wrasse

Cheeklined Wrasse

Cheeklined Wrasse (Red Variation)

Ringtail Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Ringtail Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Midget Wrasse

Disappearing Wrasse

Sixstripe Wrasse

Eightstripe Wrasse

Fourstripe Wrasse

Chiseltooth Wrasse

Smalltail Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Smalltail Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Cryptic Wrasse

Cockerel Wrasse

Belted Wrasse

Redshoulder Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Saddle Wrasse

Sixbar Wrasse

Moon Wrasse

Yellow-Brown Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Yellow-Brown Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Blackbar Wrasse



All Photographs
© 2025 Florent Charpin