Napoleon Wrasse
The Napoleon Wrasse is by far the largest wrasse; fact, it's one of the largest reef fish encountered in the tropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Ocean, and are usually solitary visitors to reefs.
It is only later in life that these fish take on the characteristic squiggly patterns of blue on a turquoise background; as juveniles, fish have an ash grey color that gradually disappears. Adults also have a large prominent bump on their forehead, with massive lips.
Sadly, their lips are selling for a small fortune in cities from Hong Kong to Shanghai; though protected, poaching still occurs, especially when a 40 kilo specimen can fetch 10,000 in a five star seafood restaurant.
Encounters
Napoleon Wrasse can be very relaxed around divers, appearing almost tame. The Indian Ocean reefs of the Maldives and Seychelles are thick with these fish; and on almost every dive, at least two individuals can be seen, particularly in the North Male Atoll.
Scientific Name:
Cheilinus Undulatus
Diet:
molluscs, seafishes, sea urchins, crown of thorns starfish, and other crustaceans
Facts:
All Napoleon Wrasse start off life either as females, or males: only females can change to males later in life, and are the only ones eligible to become supermales, with a harem of females;
can weigh up to 191 kilos (430 pounds), and 2.3 meters (7.5 feet);
prefer waters 30 degrees North, to 23 degrees South;
are diurnal, active only during the day;
prefers to sleep in caves or large crevasses at night;
take many years to reach maturity;
mate in highly predictable locations and times, making them vulnerable to poaching
Research and Conservation Agencies:
The capture, sale or exploitation of Napoleon Wrasse is banned in the Seychelles and the Maldives
WWF Hong Kong http://www.wwf.org.hk/eng/conservation/spe_cons/napoleon_wrasse/index.html
One Ocean http://www.oceannenvironment.org/news.htm
Coray Cay Conservation http://www.coralcay.org/archives/2006/04/26/15.10.51.php
Diving With Napoleon Wrasse
The coral triangle of Indonesia, Philippines and Malaysia is home to many Napoleon Wrasse. It was on the island of Bali that I saw my first Napoleons, a group of five, organized in descending size, nose to tail, quickly swimming across the reef before disappearing into the blue.
In the Maldives, the Napoleon Wrasse are completely protected from fishing, and huge Wrasse can be seen, particularly in the North Male Atoll's wreck, the Maldive Victory. You could always tell who was new to Maldives diving, because they would point furiously at a two foot specimen behind the head of the dive master, who casually turned and shrugged. Napoleon Wrasse (some up to 6 feet long) are so common in the Maldives, dive masters hardly point them out, and their familiarity with divers is clear when they nonchalantly keep on feeding and flapping their fins in that characteristic Wrasse way, keeping an eye on these alien visitors without blinking.
Juvenile Napoleon Wrasse are also very common here, and instead of the brilliant turquoise color, their skin is light grey, however, the characteristic lips are still the same.
Questions about diving with Napoleon Wrasse? Email Dave here.