Napoleon Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
Sighting evidence at Dhonfanu Thila, Baa Atoll
Photo: David Roche · CC BY-NC
Napoleon wrasse, one of the largest reef fish in the world reaching up to 2 metres, use their thick lips and powerful jaws to crush hard corals, sea urchins, and molluscs that most predators cannot access. By breaking open coral heads they expose internal cavities colonised by other organisms, contributing to reef structural complexity. They are listed as endangered due to targeted fishing pressure and their extremely slow reproductive rate.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Napoleon Wrasse is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.