Florent's Guide To The

Tropical Reefs

Ornate Wrasse

Halichoeres ornatissimus

Ornate Wrasse - Halichoeres ornatissimus - Lanai, Hawaii

Lanai, Hawaii

Initial Phase

Ornate Wrasse - Halichoeres ornatissimus - Big Island, Hawaii

Big Island, Hawaii

Initial Phase

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Ornate Wrasse

Also known as: Ornamented Wrasse

Category: Wrasses

Scientific Name: Halichoeres ornatissimus

Size: Up to 6 in. (15 cm)

Depth: 30-130 ft. (10-40 m)

Distribution: Pacific, Indonesia, Hawaii, Great Barrier Reef, French Polynesia

Chordata (Phylum)

└Osteichthyes (Parvphylum)

└Actinopterygii (Gigaclass)

└Actinopteri (Superclass)

└Teleostei (Class)

└Eupercaria (Order)

└Labridae (Family)

└Halichoeres (Genus)

Parrotfishes & Wrasses

Wrasses

Blackear Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Blackear Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Twotone Wrasse (Juvenile)

Puddingwife (Juvenile)

Puddingwife (Initial Phase)

Puddingwife (Terminal Phase)

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)

Hogfish (Initial Phase)

Hogfish (Terminal Phase)

Shortnose Wrasse

Leopard Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Rockmover Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Rockmover Wrasse (Juvenile)

Twospot Wrasse (variation)

Cheeklined Wrasse

Cheeklined Wrasse (Red Variation)

Ringtail Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Ringtail Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Disappearing Wrasse

Sixstripe Wrasse

Eightstripe Wrasse

Fourstripe Wrasse

Chiseltooth Wrasse

Smalltail Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Smalltail Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Cockerel Wrasse

Redshoulder Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Bluehead (Initial Phase)

Bluehead (Intermediate Phase)

Bluehead (Terminal Phase)

Sunset Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Cortez Rainbow Wrasse (Juvenile)

Cortez Rainbow Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Yellow-Brown Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Yellow-Brown Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Blackbar Wrasse

Rosy Razorfish (Male)

Rosy Razorfish (Female)

Pearly Razorfish (Juvenile)

Green Razorfish (Male)

Green Razorfish (Female)

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

Mexican Hogfish (Initial Phase)

Mexican Hogfish (Intermediate Phase)

Mexican Hogfish (Terminal Phase)

Blackfin Hogfish

Blackbelt Hogfish

Blackbelt Hogfish (Juvenile)

Creole Wrasse (Juvenile)

Spotfin Hogfish

Spanish Hogfish (Initial Phase)

Spanish Hogfish

Redbreasted Wrasse

Tripletail Wrasse

Humphead 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 (Juvenile)

Pale-Barred Coris

Yellowstripe Coris (Female)

Yellowtail Coris (Initial Phase)

Yellowtail Coris (Terminal Phase)

Yellowtail Coris (Juvenile)

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)

Slippery Dick (Juvenile)

Slippery Dick (Initial Phase)

Slippery Dick (Terminal Phase)

Canary Wrasse (Juvenile)

Yellowcheek Wrasse

Chameleon Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

Chameleon Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Yellowhead Wrasse (Juvenile)

Yellowhead Wrasse (Initial Phase)

Yellowhead Wrasse (Terminal Phase)

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)

All Photographs
© 2025 Florent Charpin