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THThe beauty of the Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)
The Napoleonfish, called also Maori wrasse, Humphead wrasse, can instantly be recognized by its size, colour and shape. It is one of the largest reef fishes in the world and is the largest member of the wrasse family.
They can grow up to 230 cm and weigh 190 kg.
They have fleshy lips and a hump over the head that is similar to a Napoleon hat. The hump becomes more prominent with age.
The eyes of the Napoleon fish can rotate 360 degrees.
Each eye can rotate to look forwards, backwards, up, and down. Independently. Much like a chameleon. They are constantly moving, always swiveling around to observe their surroundings.
Maori wrasse, like all other wrasses, have protrusible mouths, with separate jaw teeth that jut outward.
Napoleons are one of the few fish that can eat toxic animals such as boxfish, sea hares, and the crown of thorns starfish. They are therefore a key part of the marine food chain in keeping a balanced and healthy coral reef.
Most Napoleon fish are born as females. They form harems and take about 5 to 7 years to reach sexual maturity. There is one dominant male responsible for fertilising the harem in its territory. If a dominant male does not exist, a female with a larger body size will change her sex and take up the role of a dominant male.
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