Napoleon Wrasse

Photo: David Roche · CC BY-NC

Several large Napoleon wrasse — locally known as humphead wrasse — are resident at the pinnacle, identifiable by the characteristic humps on their foreheads that enlarge as the fish age. These are long-lived animals, with individuals at Netrani estimated to be 20 or more years old based on their size, and they have become accustomed to divers enough to approach closely out of curiosity. As a vulnerable species under intense commercial fishing pressure across much of Asia, their presence at Netrani in healthy numbers reflects the relative protection the island's remote location affords them.