Surge wrasse (Thalassoma purpureum) is a saltwater species recorded in Taiwan, Malaysia. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of 0–10 m.
Scientific name: Thalassoma purpureum · Water: Saltwater
Size: up to 46 cm
The surge wrasse is a labrid found almost exclusively in the surge zone of outer reef flats, reef margins and rocky coastlines, down to about 10 m, and it is benthopelagic. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite: females are spread out over large reef sections and dominated by a few males, and males grow much larger than females. It feeds on small invertebrates such as crabs, sea urchins, brittlestars and molluscs, on small fishes, and on polychaetes. It reaches about 46 cm total length and up to about 1.2 kg. It is a minor commercial species, a game fish and a commercial aquarium species, selling in the highest price band, with a trophic level of 3.8, moderate fishing vulnerability at 40 of 100, and medium resilience.
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