Clown Wrasse

Halichoeres maculipinna

You could think you were seeing 6 different fish and be surprised to find they are all the Clown Wrasse. From juvenile to the adult breeding male their transformations seem to follow no logical pattern. The only identifiable mark or color found at every stage of development is their red tipped "Clown" nose. They inhabit rocky rubble areas near sea grass beds or areas of dead coral. Most often seen in depths of more than 4 feet.  They are very similar in size to their cousins the Slippery Dick Wrasse. The two species may be confused with each other,  especially since they are constantly moving and tend to keep their distance.