Which fish, also called the Maori wrasse, is a notable Great Barrier Reef species?

The humphead wrasse is the fish also called the Maori wrasse and is a notable Great Barrier Reef species.

Known scientifically as Cheilinus undulatus, it is one of the largest bony reef fishes. Adults can exceed two metres in length and are recognised by their thick lips, prominent forehead hump and blue-green colouring. The name “Maori wrasse” refers to facial markings that some observers compare with traditional Maori tattoo patterns.

Humphead wrasse live around coral reefs and rocky areas across the tropical Indo-Pacific, including the Great Barrier Reef. They feed on hard-shelled animals such as molluscs and crustaceans, using strong jaws and pharyngeal teeth to crush or process prey.

The species is vulnerable to overfishing, particularly because it grows slowly and changes sex during its life. It is protected in many places, but it is not the same fish as the potato cod, another famous large Great Barrier Reef reef fish.