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Clown Wrasse

Halichoeres maculipinna

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Clown Wrasse (Halichoeres maculipinna): Adult yellow side stripe, red facial lines, black dorsal spot and a conspicuous dark belly blotch.
Original identification illustration of Clown Wrasse. Features may vary.

Fun facts for your next surface interval

  • A striped juvenile and a yellow-striped adult with a belly blotch are the same species.
  • Its prominent adult dorsal spot lies among the front spines, not at the tail end.
  • The similar Brazilian wrasse is a separate sister species, Halichoeres penrosei.

Florida and local context

Lake Worth Lagoon, Palm Beach County: Florida Museum checklist row explicitly marked verified (x).

Documented regional presence is not a guarantee of an encounter or a measure of how common this animal is at your dive site.

How to recognize this animal

A terminal-phase clown wrasse has a broad yellow stripe along the side, white below, with a large black blotch on the upper belly above the vent. Red lines radiate around its eye and run along the cheek. A conspicuous elongated black mark sits in the spiny front portion of the dorsal fin, not at its rear.

Size and life stages

At a maximum of 15 centimeters, or about six inches, this is a small wrasse whose appearance changes markedly with growth. A juvenile has a broad black stripe through the eye to the tail base, a narrow yellow stripe above it and a white underside. The adult belly blotch is therefore not a universal juvenile identification mark.

Habitat and where to look

Reef surfaces and adjoining sand provide the usual setting. The documented depth interval is two to 50 meters. A diver should examine the reef-sand transition and smaller patches of structure, where a slim wrasse can weave around loose material. The species is not restricted to the most brightly colored coral or to one particular reef-building coral.

Range and local context

The documented range extends from the Carolinas to the southern Caribbean. Florida Museum explicitly marks this species verified in Lake Worth Lagoon, providing a Palm Beach County record. That entry documents occurrence, not abundance, a current count or a guaranteed Blue Heron Bridge encounter. The surrounding habitat and individual color pattern still need to fit any new sighting.

What is on the menu?

The recorded diet includes small crustaceans, mollusks, worms and cephalopods. Its jaws carry enlarged front canines, with additional grinding structures in the throat. Together with a mouth that can project forward, these features suit taking animal prey from complex bottom habitat. A feeding stop beside rubble does not necessarily mean the fish is eating algae.

Daily habits and behavior

The initial phase has a greenish to brown upper body, white underside and short pink marks on many scales. Terminal fish display stronger yellow, green and red, as well as the belly blotch. Compare the whole pattern while the fish turns: the dorsal spot can be hidden if the fin is folded and the belly is angled away.

Mating and the next generation

Smithsonian's species data include pelagic eggs and larvae, but the reviewed information does not establish a Palm Beach spawning season. Adult color phases should not be converted into a local breeding timetable. An observed ascent, pair interaction or egg release can be recorded as behavior; the colorful markings alone are an identification clue rather than proof of spawning.

Look-alikes and identification traps

Small slippery dicks share a dark lengthwise juvenile stripe. Blackear wrasses have a distinctive post-eye patch instead of the clown's adult belly blotch. Brazilian records require special care because the Brazilian sister species is Halichoeres penrosei, not automatically this Caribbean species. Geography is part of the identification, particularly when checking older photographs or books.

Observe without disturbing

Give a swimming clown wrasse room to continue along the reef edge instead of driving it toward open sand. A side image showing the belly and raised dorsal is especially useful, but do not provoke fin extension. Leave crevices and loose rubble untouched, and keep the fish's age or color phase in the sighting notes.

Harvest, protection and eating safety

Restricted live collection only; no spearing; protected collection areas apply

Can it be hunted or harvested?

Clown Wrasse (Halichoeres maculipinna) falls under Florida recreational marine-life rules (wrasse family Labridae). It is not a blanket statewide no-take species, but food harvest is not authorized under these live-only rules. Where lawful, a saltwater fishing license is required unless exempt, and the fish must be landed and kept alive with adequate circulation or aeration. Limit: five of this species within 20 marine-life organisms per person per day; two-day possession: ten of this species within 40 total. No species-specific statewide size limit is listed. Recreational sale is prohibited.

Florida seasons and areas

No species-specific annual closed months are listed for this live-collection category. Collection is prohibited inside the designated Blue Heron Bridge dive-site boundary, throughout Biscayne National Park and in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park for this listed fish/group. Florida marine-life requirements also apply in adjacent federal waters on both coasts. Additional sanctuary, park and refuge zones can prohibit taking. The designated Western Dry Rocks area is closed to all fishing April 1 through July 31 each year.

Can it be speared?

No. Spears are not an authorized recreational method for this live-collection species. Only approved live-collection gear, such as permitted hand-held nets, barrier/drop nets or a slurp gun, may be used where collection is otherwise lawful. An open calendar does not override a protected area or the requirement to keep the animal alive.

Is it safe to eat?

Not a food-harvest species under the applicable live-only rules; this guide does not establish it as safe to eat. Do not treat lawful aquarium collection, small size or lack of a named consumption advisory as food-safety clearance. Florida DOH guidance depends on the fish, capture water and consumer, with extra considerations for children and pregnancy. Cooking does not eliminate all marine toxins.

Before you act: This recreational overview is not permission to collect or spear at your dive site. Confirm the species, date, management area, state or federal waters, gear, licenses and current local closures. Identification artwork cannot establish an identification or guarantee seafood safety.

Official rules and health guidance

Reviewed 2026-11-10. Rules and advisories can change; check the linked authorities before harvesting or eating.

Sources and review

Reviewed 2026-11-10.

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