Napoleon Wrasse
Cheilinus undulatus
Sighting evidence at Tutuba Island Reef, Espiritu Santo
Photo: David Roche · CC BY-NC
Napoleon wrasse, the largest reef fish in the Indo-Pacific, are habitually curious at Tutuba and will approach divers closely, their thick lips and fleshy humped forehead making them instantly recognizable. They prey on hard-shelled invertebrates including sea urchins, molluscs, and crustaceans that smaller fish cannot crack, occupying an ecological niche that controls populations of these invertebrates across the reef.
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.