Latin name

Iniistius jacksonensis

Other name

Keel-head, keelhead wrasse, keel-headed parrotfish, keelheaded wrasse, Australian keel-head wrasse.

Identification

Iniistius: Latin, in = in + Greek, istion = sail.

This species is characterised by the following features: lateral line discontinuous, lateral line scales porous 19-21 + 5-6; scale rows below lateral line 10 (rarely 9); fine scales below eye; vertical rows of fine scales on cheek 7, and each row strictly separated from adjacent rows; central gill blade of upper limb of first gill arch with 2 branches; central gill blade of lower limb of first gill arch with 1 branch; body depth 33. 6-41.5% of SL; head length 29.6-32.1% of SL; orbital diameter 5.0-6.8% of mean. 

Features of fish fins

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12. 

The first two dorsal fin rays are short, similar in length to the other dorsal fin rays, and the eleventh soft dorsal fin ray is the longest, with the tip of the last soft dorsal fin ray depressed and running vertically through the base of the caudal fin. Pectoral fin length is 26.5-29.9% of SL.

Fish colouring

Purple-spotted wrasse head with no spots and small milky white spots at the base of the anal fin and caudal peduncle.

Distribution

Widespread in the western Pacific: only found in eastern Australia.

Habitat

Tropical marine bottom dwellers, habitat depth range 2 to 100 m.

Size

Males of this species reach a maximum length of 18.9 cm.

Behavior

A coastal species inhabiting rocky reefs and sandy bottoms.

Food and feeding habits

These fish feed on amphipods, copepods, daphnia salina, invertebrates, krill, mysis and zooplankton. 

Reproduction

The Purple-spotted Wrasse has a clear mating pattern during breeding. 

Fishing

This species is commercially important for fishing.

Relationship with a person

Harmless.